Anti-Ribosomal-P antibodies in Pediatric Patients with Central Nervous System Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Determining whether elevated serum levels of antibodies to ribosoma't P-protein are associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE paediatric patients, and the possibility of using these antibodies as a sensitive and specific marker for diagnosing neuropsychiatric SLE in paediatric patients. Methods:

Thi1ty paediatric SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations (NPSLE cases) were enrolled in this study, along with I 0 non-CNS SLE children and 20 healthy controls. The NPSLE studied group was divided into neurologic and psychiatric cases, and also into major and minor cases. The same group was also divided into 2 subgroups according to CNS activity. All patients were assessed for serum anti-ribosomai-P antibodies.

Results:

Serum anti-ribosomai-P antibodies were found in elevated levels in 25 out of the 30 NPSLE cases(83.3%).

It was also found that anti-ribosomal-P antibodies were present in significantly higher levels in active than in non-active NPSLE cases. The anti-ribosomal-P antibodies proved to be a moderately sensitive and highly specific marker for diagnosing NPSLE.