Background The relationships between the occurrence of antibodies used in clinical practice for diagnosis and monitoring of the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and clinical criteria used in the SLICC classification system are a matter of discussion.

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate whether there are any relationships between the presence of clinical criteria used in the SLICC classification system and the presence of antibodies characteristic for SLE detected by multiparametric assay.

Methods The study involved 81 (72-female and 9-male) consecutive SLE patients treated in the Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases. All patients fulfilled the SLICC classification criteria of SLE and 21 SLE pts - criteria of secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (SAPS). The mean age in the study group was: 37.6±11.1 years (from 19 to 71), the duration of the disease was 9.6±8.5 (from 0 to 33) years and mean SLE activity (SLEDAI scale) 4.1±4.9 (from 0 to 22).

The presence of antibodies (Ab) was determined by multiparametric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Polycheck Rheuma (Biocheck, GmbH, Münster, Germany). Statistical data analysis was performed using Statistica v10.0.

Results In the studied group the following symptoms of SLE were found: malar rash – 46 pts, discoid rash -3 pts, photosensitivity – 34 pts, vasculitis – 21pts, oral ulcers – 22 pts, alopecia – 36 pts, musculoskeletal – 58 pts, arthritis – 36 pts, serositis – 14 pts, renal disorder – 7 pts, lupus nephritis – 33 pts, neurological disorders – 20 pts, hematologic disorders – 56 pts.

In the examined group of 81 patients the following antibodies were detected: anti-dsDNA – 10 pts (12.3%), anti-Sm-9 pts (11.1%), anti-Rib P – 4 pts (4.9%), anti-Histons – 15 pts (18.5%), anti-Ro/SS-A 52 – 2pts (2.5%), anti-Ro/SS-A 60 – 22 pts (27.2%), anti-La/SS-B – 7 pts (8.6%), anti-Scl-70 – 3 pts (3.7%), anti-CENP-B – 1 pts (6.2%), anti-PM/Scl-100 – 3 pts (3.7%), anty-U1-snRNP – 9pts (11.1%), anti Ku – 5 pts (6.2%), anty-Jo-1 and anty-Mi-2 – 0 pts.

In the data group of SLE patients, a statistically significant correlation was found only between vasculitis and presence of antibodies: anti-dsDNA (p=0.021, Φ Yule'a=0.27), anti-Ro SS-A 60 (p=0.027, Φ Yule'a=0.26), anti-Sm (p=0.028, Φ Yule'a=0.26).

Conclusions In the SLE pts no significant association was found between the presence of clinical criteria used in the SLICC classification system and the antibodies used in clinical practice for diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity. Only vasculitis is significantly associated with the presence of anti-dsDNA, anti-Ro SS-A 60, and anti-Sm antibodies.

Disclosure of Interest None declared