Clinical significance of anti-nucleosome antibodies in rheumatic diseases

Objective To assess the clinical significance of antinucleosome antibody(AnuA) in rheumatic diseases.Methods The AnuA was detected by ELISA assay in 146 SLE and 169 rheumatic patients other than SLE. Antinuclear antibody(ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibody were detected by indirect immunofluoresence assay.Results The positive rate of AnuA was 60.9% in SLE group,which was significantly higher than that in the control group(P0.01).The level of AnuA in SLE was the highest. AnuA was not only detected in SLE, but also in RA(10/80),SSc(5/16),pSS (2/15),MCTD(1/5) and As(1/34). The sensitivity and specificity of AnuA,ANA and anti-dsDNA in SLE were 60.9% and 98.9%,94.5% and 56.8%,45.2% and 98.9%,respectively. Combined AnuA with anti-dsDNA, the sensitivity was 65.1%.AnuA and anti-dsDNA were relative but not complete coherent.Conclusion AnuA has much value in diagnosis of SLE.The sensitivity of AunA is higher but the specificity is lower than that of anti-dsDNA antibody.Beside in SLE, AnuA is also detected in the other rheumatic diseases.