Anti-C1q Autoantibodies in Lupus Nephritis: Prevalence and Clinical Significance
Recently, anti-C1q autoantibodies have been proposed as a useful marker in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since their occurrence correlates with renal involvement and, possibly, with nephritic activity. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies in patients with SLE, with and without renal involvement, and to correlate these markers' presence and levels with the activity of the disease and nephropathy. We studied 61 patients with SLE, 40 of whom had biopsy-proven lupus nephritis; 35 patients with other connective tissue diseases; and 54 healthy controls. In addition, 18 lupus nephritis patients were followed up during the disease time course. Anti-C1q antibodies were mea…
Anti‐laminin auto antibodies in ANCA‐associated vasculitis
Background. Endothelial cell damage occurs during vasculitic processes in vivo. With the alteration of the endothelium, exposure to basement membrane components may occur with induction of humoral immunity. Methods. In the present study, we evaluated the prevalence of antibodies against the basement membrane antigen laminin (LMN) in patients with ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis (AASV), pathologic controls (systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed cryoglobulinaemia, Henoch Schonlein purpura, primary glomerulonephritis) and normal individuals. Results. By ELISA, 21.6% of AASV (16/74) and 10% of pathologic controls (3/30), but only one of the normal controls (2.8%) had these antibodies (P = 0.0…