Indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2000 substrate is a sensitive method for detecting anti-Ro/SSA antibodies in patients with lupus erythematosus and/or photosensitivity.

Cozzani, Emanuele; Drosera, Massimo; Siccardi, Marina; Babbini, Giovanni; Parodi, Aurora · J Rheumatol · 2008

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

To evaluate the sensitivity of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) utilizing HEp-2000 cells to detect antinuclear and anti-Ro/SSA antibodies. We examined 5949 sera samples from 2316 patients with connective tissue diseases. All sera were tested by IIF on HEp-2 cells as substrate and by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE). The positive sera for anti-Ro/SSA antibodies by CIE were retested by IIF using HEp-2000 cells. The sera that were anti-Ro/SSA-positive in CIE but negative on HEp-2000 cells were tested by ELISA for the 60 and 52 subunits of Ro/SSA antigen. Our results confirm the high sensitivity (81%) of HEp-2000 cells in detecting anti Ro/SSA antibodies. Using the HEp-2000 substrate is a reliable, simple alternative method for detecting anti-Ro/SSA antibodies in a first-level screening test such as IIF, especially in patients with lupus erythematosus and/or photosensitivity.

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