Anti-chromatin and anti-C1q antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus compared to other systemic autoimmune diseases

Scand J Rheumatol. 2007 Jul-Aug;36(4):291-8. doi: 10.1080/03009740701218717.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, sensitivity, and specificity of anti-chromatin and anti-C1q antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis compared to small vessel vasculitis and other connective tissue diseases. To provide long-term follow-up data for anti-chromatin antibodies in lupus nephritis.

Methods: We determined the significance of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti- double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti-chromatin, and anti-C1q antibodies, as well as complement factors C3 and C4, in relation to disease activity in SLE patients with (n = 47; long-term follow-up data for 33 patients) and without (n = 31) biopsy-confirmed lupus nephritis, microscopic polyangiitis (n = 37), Wegener's granulomatosis (n = 66), primary Sjögren's syndrome (n = 17), limited scleroderma (CREST syndrome) (n = 6), and progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS) (n = 11).

Results: Anti-chromatin antibodies were more specific and sensitive than anti-C1q antibodies in distinguishing SLE patients from those with other systemic autoimmune diseases [anti-chromatin: sensitivity 64.1%, specificity 99.2%, odds ratio (OR) 219.6; anti-C1q: sensitivity 50%, specificity 72.6%, OR 2.65]. Anti-C1q antibodies were present in 75% of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and 35.1% of patients with microscopic polyangiitis. Anti-chromatin antibodies could identify SLE in patients with positive ANA but negative anti-dsDNA antibodies. Persisting anti-chromatin antibodies indicated SLE disease activity, even if anti-dsDNA antibodies had become negative. In long-term follow-up, those SLE patients with negative anti-dsDNA antibodies but persisting ANA and anti-chromatin antibodies relapsed if immunosuppression had been tapered. Anti-chromatin antibodies correlated with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) as a marker of disease activity.

Conclusions: The measurement of anti-chromatin, but not anti-C1q, antibodies in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases increases diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for SLE and assists in treatment decisions in anti-dsDNA-negative patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / complications
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Chromatin / immunology*
  • Complement C1q / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / blood
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephritis / etiology
  • Nephritis / immunology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • Chromatin
  • Complement C1q