Which of the following auto-antibodies may not have a role in monitoring disease activity.
A. Rheumatoid factor in rheumatoid arthritis
B. Antinuclear antibodies in systemic lupuserythematosus
C. Anti-Sm antibodies in systemic lupuserythematosus
D. Anti-ds DNA antibodies in systemic lupuserythematosus
E. Anti-Ro (SSA) antibodies in Sjogren's syndrome
Ans. A ,B , C , E
The serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies appears to correlate with disease activity in many patients and often levels will rise just before a flare of disease.The relationship is not close enough to be able to alter treatment based on a rising titre of antibodies but patients should be followed more closely in this situation. Anti-Sm antibodies are very specific for SLE but not sensitive and there is no evidence that levels change with disease activity.The only other autoantibody where there may be some correlationbetween levels and disease activity is c-ANCA in Wegener's granulomatosis.
