Anti-dsDNA antibody subtypes and anti-C1q antibodies: toward a more reliable diagnosis and monitoring of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis:

The putative distinct diagnostic and pathogenic potential of aDNA-Ab subtypes, differing in their affinity or epitope specificity, was subject of several studies with controversial results. Comparing five assays, characterized by different reaction conditions and nature/source of dsDNA, we investigated the abovementioned problem in a retrospective study on 100 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 100 controls (other CTD, autoimmune hepatopathies). As demonstrated, only assay 3 (Farrzyme, TBS, UK) and 5 (Farr-RIA, Trinity Biotech, Ireland) are really suitable to detect primarily high avidity aDNA-Ab. Both were significantly linked to lupus nephritis (specificity 84%) and highly specific for SLE (95 and 96%). Thereby, assay 3 was found to be the first solid phase ELISA probably suitable to replace the Farr-RIA. Classical ELISAs (assay 1, Orgentec, Germany, and 2, Bindazyme, TBS, UK), detecting aDNA-Ab more or less independent from their avidity, or tests with only intermediate specificity for hig...