Significance of the anti-Ro(SS-A) antibody in evaluation of patients with cutaneous manifestations of a connective tissue disease

The anti-Ro(SS-A) antibody is arguably the most important antibody determination except for antinuclear antibodies in evaluation of patients suspected of having lupus erythematosus. During the past 25 years, studies have established the importance of this antibody in the evaluation of patients with atypical lupus erythematosus, who have a photosensitive dermatitis as the presenting sign. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate the utility and the necessity of this antibody determination in the evaluation of all patients with cutaneous manifestations who are suspected of having a connective tissue disease.