The ds-DNA (human leukocyte antigen) antibody is an antibody that can occur in lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as other collagenoses.
Collagenoses include:
- Dermatomyositis – disease that affects the skin and muscles and is associated primarily with diffuse pain on movement.
- Lupus erythematosus – systemic disease that affects the skin and connective tissue of the vessels, leading to vasculitides(vascular inflammation) of numerous organs such as the heart, kidneys or brain.
- Polymyositis – systemic inflammatory disease of skeletal muscle with perivascular lymphocytic infiltration.
- Progressive systemic sclerosis (systemic sclerosis) – see under scleroderma.
- Sharp syndrome – chronic inflammatory connective tissue disease that includes symptoms of several collagenoses such as lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or polymyositis.
- Scleroderma (sclero = hard, dermia = skin) – rare autoimmune disease associated with connective tissue hardening of the skin alone or of the skin and internal organs (especially digestive tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys)
- Sjögren’s syndrome (group of sicca syndromes) -autoimmune disease from the group of collagenoses that leads to a chronic inflammatory disease of the exocrine glands, most commonly the salivary and lacrimal glands; typical sequelae or complications of sicca syndrome are:
- Keratoconjunctivitissicca (dry eye syndrome) due to lack of wetting of the cornea and conjunctiva with tear fluid.
- Increased susceptibility to caries due to xerostomia (dry mouth) due to decreased salivary secretion.
- Rhinitis sicca (dry nasal mucous membranes), hoarsenessand chronic cough irritation and impaired sexual function due to disruption of mucus gland production of the respiratory tract and genital organs.
This laboratory parameter is positive in up to 96 percent of those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It occurs less frequently in other collagenoses.
The ds-DNA antibody is determined to confirm the diagnosis of SLE after ANA (antinuclear antibody) determination.
Two methods are used to determine the ds-DNA antibody, Crithidia-luciliae immunofluorescence and an enzyme immunoassay.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- Not known
Normal value
| Normal value | IFT titer 1: < 10 |
Indications
- Suspicion of collagenosis
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Dermatomyositis
- Lupus erythematosus
- Polymyositis
- Progressive systemic sclerosis
- Sharp syndrome
- Scleroderma
- Sjögren’s syndrome
Note
- Detection of dsDNA-AAK and ENA-AAK is highly specific for autoimmune disease!
