ANTI-NUCLEOSOME ANTIBODIES: DIAGNOSTIC AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic , inflammatory autoimmune disease with a
wide range of clinical and immunological abnormalities. The presence of varied
autoantibodies, immune complex deposition and end organ damage are characteristic
of the disease. Among the wide range of anti-nuclear antibodies lined up in the
diagnostic armamentarium of SLE presently, antinucleosome antibodies are considered
superior to the previously main diagnostic marker anti-dsDNA antibodies.
Antinucleosome antibodies have a higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of
SLE and SLE disease activity. They are found in active SLE cases and even in ds-
DNA negative patients. More ever, they are not found in healthy controls. Thus,
antinucleosome antibodies can be utilized as a potential marker for the diagnosis
and assessment of SLE disease activity.