Diagnosis and Treatment of Lupus Nephritis

Correlation between anti-DNA antibody titre and psychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus

“…Determination of serum anti-DNA antibody titres together with serum levels of C3 and C4 complement components have proved useful in the management of patients with SLE nephritis (Oyama, 1971;Pick et al, 1974). However, the usefulness of these laboratory parameters in patients with CNS involvement has not yet been established since very few SLE patients with such involvement have been followed-up (Bennett et al, 1972;Keeffe et al, 1974;Harbeck et al, 1973).…”

“…Serum anti-DNA antibody titres are considered to be a most specific and sensitive parameter for the diagnosis and follow-up of SLE patients with renal involvement (Oyama, 1971;Pincus et al, 1971;Pick, Levo and Weiss, 1974). Determination of serum anti-DNA antibody titres together with serum levels of C3 and C4 complement components have proved useful in the management of patients with SLE nephritis (Oyama, 1971;Pick et al, 1974).…”

“…A good correlation between high anti-DNA antibody titres and low complement levels was observed during periods of active renal or cutaneous involvement in SLE patients (Oyama, 1971;Levo et al, 1973). The pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in SLE is possibly based on the same mechanisms (Bennett et al, 1972;Baker et al, 1974;Petz et al, 1971;Hadler et al, 1973;Keeffe, Baradana and Harbeck, 1974;Harbeck et al, 1973;Levin et al, 1972;Atkins et al, 1972;Bennahum and Messner, 1975).…”

Correlation between Immunological Parameters and Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Lupus erythematosus

“…Anti-DNA antibody titers are considered to be a most specific and sensitive parameter for the diagnosis and follow-up of SLE patients with renal involvement [1,7,8], A high anti-DNA antibody titer accompanied by a low complement level indicates active renal disease, and a drop in the anti-DNA antibody titer with a rise in the complement levels signals re mission. In contrast to the emphasis on the importance of these immuno logical parameters in SLE patients with renal involvement, their importance is not recognized in patients whose disease is limited to the skin.…”

“…This complex causes tissue injury through the activation of humoral mecha nisms, the most important one being the complement system [1][2][3]. These immune complexes and complement components were first demonstrated on the glomerular basement membrane by immunofluorescent techniques [5,6], A good correlation between high anti-DNA antibody titers and low complement levels was observed during periods of active renal disease in SLE patients [1,[7][8][9]. Similarly, immune complex mediated injury might be responsible for the skin manifestations in SLE [10], The presence of immuno globulins and complement was demonstrated in the dermo-epidermal junction in 90% of biopsies taken from diseased skin and in 53% of those taken from normal skin of SLE patients [11][12][13].…”