ABSTRACT
The streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (SABC) technique was compared to conventional indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) for the detection of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) on HEp-2 cell substrate. SABC showed higher specificity and predictive value and gave more reproducible titres and clearer staining patterns than IIF in sera from a series of rheumatic disease patients. Sera from 80 patients with various types of rheumatic diseases and 20 without rheumatic disease were further tested using the SABC method. All systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera were positive. The overall sensitivity was 95%, specificity 90% and predictive value 97% for rheumatic disease. The rim pattern was associated with SLE and mixed connective tissue disease. The nucleolar/homogeneous pattern was associated with scleroderma and SLE in remission. ANA titre and staining pattern have limited value in the clinical assessment of rheumatic disease; however, ANA has very high sensitivity for SLE and remains an excellent screening test.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Antinuclear/blood , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Rheumatic Diseases/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
Seven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), persistent thrombocytopenia (TP), in whom it was considered undesirable to institute an increase in steroid or immunosuppressive agents, were treated with danazol. Five patients completed the minimum period of 8 weeks. Two patients showed early response to danazol but were switched over to cyclophosphamide or azathioprine after 4 weeks because of systemic disease. Of the remaining five patients, four had complete responses. In one patient who failed treatment the TP was considered to be related to another drug (ranitidine). Other manifestations of SLE also improved with treatment. Side effects included amenorrhea in one patient, and hypoglycemia and hyponatremia in another. Infections were absent. Danazol can be a useful alternative treatment of lupus TP.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Blood Platelets , Danazol/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy , Male , Ranitidine/adverse effects , Thrombocytopenia/drug therapyABSTRACT
The clinical features of thirteen Chinese patients with lupus anticoagulant were described. They were noted to conform to those reported among Caucasians and tend to suggest that the term 'lupus anticoagulant' is a double misnomer.