Lupus band test in Iraqi patients with lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue diseases

ABSTRACT

A total of 49 patients with various connective tissue diseases were studied; 37 cases of SLE, 4 patients with DLE, 4 with progressive systemic sclerosis, two with morphea, one with mixed connective tissue disease, and one with dermato myositis, were fully studied using direct and indirect immunofluorecence technique The results of dirct immuno fluorescence showed that lupus band was present in 70% of SLE patients. The pattern of immunoglobulin deposition was mainly granular at dermo-epidermal junction. The intensity of the fluorescence was varied from faint to moderate in inactive SLE, while it was intense in the majority of active cases. The frequency of lupus band was more in the active from of the disease [88.9%] while present in 52.6% of the inactive cases. The lupus band consisted of different immunglobulins and complements, but the most single immunoglobulin class was 1gM [68%], either singly or in combi nation with others. IgG was present in 27% of cases and was always in combination with other immunoglobulins and complements. In general 1gM had tendency to occur in the inactive cases while lgG commonly seen in the active group. The result of indirect immunofluoresceAce techniques showed that 62% of SLE patients had positive antinuclear activity in their sera. Patients with DLE showed positive lupus band in two out.of four patients. Tests for the antinuclear anilbody were negative. Therefore immuno fluorescence techniques could be used for differential diagnosis of various connective tissue disorders and to predict the severity of the disease specially in lupus erythematosus