Abstract

CARPINELLI, MM et al. Frequency of antinuclear antibody patterns in patients with SLE clinical suspicion. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2010, vol.8, n.2, pp.27-33. ISSN 1812-9528.

Autoimmune diseases are alterations of the immunological tolerance mechanisms, with production of antibodies against self-antigens, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), which are detected by indirect immunofluorescence, and allow the recognition of several nuclear and cytoplasmic patterns, as shown in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The objective of this study was to describe the ANA staining patterns in sera of patients with clinical suspicion of SLE that attended the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud during 2008. In this descriptive observational study, 150 coded positive ANA sera were analyzed, respecting the confidentiality of patients. ANA determination was made by indirect immunofluorescence using slides with HEp-2 cells (BIO-RAD-USA) and a antihuman-IgGfluorescein conjugatefrom Sigma (USA). Of the 150 studied patients, 134 (89%) were females and 16 (11%) males with ages between 11 and 87 years. Of the ANA positive sera analyzed, 44 (29%) showed peripheral patterns, 18 (12%) coarse speckled patterns, 39 (26%) fine speckled patterns, 42 (28%) homogeneous patterns, 5 (3%) nucleolar patterns and 2 (1.3%) fine speckled cytoplasmic patterns. In this study, the peripheral pattern was found in greater percentage, followed by homogeneous and fine speckled patterns, which are associated to patients with SLE, indicating an unfavorable prognosis for these patients.

Keywords : antinuclear antibodies; staining patterns; Hep-2 cells.

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