ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the detection rate of anti-SSA60 and SSB antibodies in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The correlation of anti-SSA and SSB antibodies with SLE clinical outcome was also investigated.Methods This study included 251 cases of SLE diagnosed in our hospital between 2007 and 2010.ELISA and double immunodiffusion method was used to detect the sera antiSSA60 and SSB antibodies.The patients were closely monitored for three years in terms of clinical and laboratory parameters and the presence of associated Sj(o)gren' s syndrome (SS).Statistical analysis were performed using student t test or x2 test.Results ① The detection rate of anti-SSA60 antibody in serum of patients with SLE was 65.3％.The detection rate of anti-SSB antibody in serum of patients with SLE was 28.3％; ② During the three-year follow up,patients with anti-SSA60 (29.3％,48 cases) or SSB antibodies (35.2％,25 cases) were more likely to have dry mouth and eyes and later developed SS (P＜0.05); ③ Patients with anti-SSA60 antibody were more likely to develop serositis (20.7％ vs 8.0％),neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus (NPLE)(18.9％ vs 8.0％),and hematuria (35.4％ vs 21.8％)(P＜0.05).Patients with negative anti-SSB antibody were more likely to have fever (43.7％ vs 57.8％,x2=4.082,P＜0.05); ④ Patients positive for anti-SSB antibody were also positive for anti-Sm antibody (50.7％ vs 32.8％,x2=6.956,P＜0.05);⑤ Younger patients were more likely to have anti-SSA60 and SSB antibodies in their sera (P＜0.05); ⑥Patients positive for anti-SSA60 antibody had higher SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) than patients with negative anti-SSA60 antibody [(17±9) vs (15±7),t=2.389,P＜0.05].Patients positive for anti-SSB antibody had higher level of IgG [(18±7) vs (16±6) g/L,t=2.304,P=0.023],and lower level of CRP than patients negative for anti-SSB antibody [(14±20) vs (21±33) mg/L,t=-2.173,P=0.031].Conclusion Patients positive for anti-SSA60 antibody have higher SLEDAI and more severe clinical outcomes.Patients with antiSSA or anti-SSB antibody are more likely to develop dry mouth and eyes which eventually leads to SS.