a survey of antibodies for the extractable nuclear antigens and their role in the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of sle

fifty-seven patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus with different clinical features were studied from various aspects of immunological abnormalities, including anti-nuclear antibodies; anti-dna; anti-sm (smith's antigen); and, other extractable nuclear antigens. the tests employed were microhemagglutination, counter immunoelecterphoresis, and radio immunoassay (ria). the comparison between the two techniques for detectiong anti-dna titers showed a significant correlation between them. there was also a significant positive correlation between the presence of anti-dna and lupus nephritis (p>o.05). however, lupus nephritis has a negative association with anti-sm. we will discuss anti-sm in sle patients that may have an inhibitory effect on developing the lupus nephritis. the association of anti-sm in sle may help the physicians to prognose the disease and manipulate the treatment.