Clinical significance of anti-Ro/SSA-52 kDa antibodies-a retrospective monocentric study

Objectives. Two types of anti-Ro/SSA antibodies have been described, anti-SSA-52 kDa (aSSA52) and anti-SSA-60 kDa (aSSA60), each specific to different antigens. However, conflicting data exist concerning the involvement of the aSSA52 in autoimmune diseases (ADs). We therefore determined the clinical significance of these antibodies in patients displaying aSSA52, but not aSSA60. Methods. The 2005-08 retrospective monocentric study: all patients positive for aSSA60 and/or aSSA52 antibodies were investigated. Results. Among 297 patients, 82 were aSSA52 positive and aSSA60 negative. There were 21 males and 61 females. Forty-eight (58.5%) patients met our criteria for an AD. Two groups were distinguished according to the association (Group 1) or not (Group 2) of the aSSA52 with other autoantibodies. In Group 1, 33 out of 34 patients suffered from an AD. The two most common being SLE and SSc. The prevalence of AD was lower in Group 2 (15 out of 48, 31.3%, P=0.001). aSSA52 levels were similar in patients with or without AD. Conclusions. The existence of aSSA52 in association with other antibodies did not predict the presence of AD. There was no evidence to suggest that aSSA52 antibodies were associated with a specific clinical form of SLE or SSc. In the absence of other autoantibodies, aSSA52 was less associated with the presence of an AD. A positive aSSA52 test is of low diagnostic value for AD. Nevertheless, a longitudinal prospective follow-up study would determine whether or not persistence of these autoantibodies was of use in diagnosing AD.