Patients with juvenile-onset SLE more often have renal involvement and encephalopathy than patients with adult-onset SLE. Anti-ribosomal P, anti-dsDNA and antihistone antibodies are more often found in patients with juvenile-onset SLE.

Objectives: To study associations between antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and signs/symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: A consecutive cohort of 289 patients with SLE was included; 235 fulfilled ACR criteria for SLE and were further analysed. ANA profiles were determined by line immunoassay and by indirect immunofluorescence on Crithidia luciliae. An extensive list of signs/symptoms was evaluated. Results: Five clusters of antibodies were defined by cluster analysis: 1-antibodies to SmB, SmD, RNP-A, RNP-C, and RNP-70k; 2-antibodies to Ro52, Ro60, and SSB; 3, 4, and 5-antibodies to ribosomal P, histones and dsDNA, respectively. Significant associations (p(0.01) were found between anti-RNP-70k, anti-RNP-A, anti-RNP-C and Raynaud's phenomenon, between anti-RNP-A, anti-RNP-70k and leucopenia, and between anti-RNP-A, anti-RNP-C and a lower prevalence of urine cellular casts. Anti-SSA, anti-SSB were associated with xerostomia, and anti-SSB with pericarditis. Antibodies to ribosomal P were associated with haemolytic anaemia, leucopenia, and alopecia. Patients with antidsDNA antibodies had a higher risk for cellular casts and a lower risk for photosensitivity. Antihistone antibodies were associated with arthritis. Conclusions: In a large and consecutive cohort of patients with SLE, clusters of antibodies were identified. Previously reported associations of antibodies with symptoms were confirmed and new associations found.

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Antibodies (Abs) against the structure specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) were reported in a small systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) series but not in other systemic autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study was to confirm the selective presence of anti-SSRP1 Abs in a larger SLE series and to evaluate their relationship with disease activity and other immune markers. Anti-SSRP1 Abs were investigated by a 'home made' ELISA in: 120 SLE, 65 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 51 systemic sclerosis (SSc), 23 Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) and 40 idiopathic autoimmune urticaria (IAU) patients and 190 healthy controls. Sera from MRL lpr/lpr and Balb-c mice were also tested. Anti-SSRP1 Abs were detected in 43 SLE (35.8%), nine SSc (17.6%), eight RA (12.3%), six IAU (15%), three CSS (13%) patients and five healthy controls (2.6%). Antibody prevalence and titers were significantly higher in SLE patients than in sera from both normal and disease controls. Anti-SSRP1 Ab activity was also detected in sera from MRL lpr/lpr but not Balb-c mice. The antibodies did not correlate with the disease activity evaluated as the ECLAM index score and were more prevalent in patients without renal involvement. No correlation was found with other serum autoantibodies. Our results confirm that anti-SSRP1 Abs are associated with but not specific for the lupus disease.