The value of antinuclear antibody spectrum in diagnosis and disease activity assessment in early atypical systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the value of antinuclear antibody spectrum(ANAs) in diagnosis and disease activity assessment in early atypical systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).

Methodology: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 77 patients with early atypical SLE(the SLE group) from January 2023 to June 2025 in Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, while the clinical data from 40 patients with other rheumatic diseases during the same period were selected as the non-SLE group. All 117 patients underwent serum ANAs detection using immunoblotting to compare the diagnostic value of the ANAs and combination detection for SLE. The 77 SLE patients were divided into the active(n= 43) and non-active disease(n= 34) groups following the SLE Disease Activity Index(SLEDAI), with multivariate logistic regression analysis adopted to identify risk factors affecting disease activity in SLE patients.

Results: The positivity rates of ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, anti-AunA, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, and anti-rRNP in the SLE group were significantly higher than those in the non-SLE group(P< 0.05), with no significant differences in the positivity rates of anti-SCL-70 and anti-Jo-1 between the two groups(P> 0.05). Meanwhile, the specificity of serum ANAs antibodies was high, with anti-Jo-1 showing the highest specificity at 100%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that positive anti-dsDNA and anti-AnuA were independent risk factors affecting disease activity in SLE patients(P< 0.05).

Conclusion: ANAs is of significant value in diagnosis and disease activity assessment in early atypical SLE. More accurate diagnostic and clinical assessment references could be provided through the detection of various ANAs antibodies and their combinations, along with multivariate analysis.