The comparison in double immunodiffusion and western blotting methods of anti-SS-A/B antibodies in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the autoimmune responses against SS-A/B antigens by double immunodiffusion (DID) and western blotting (WB) in primary and secondary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Patients: Forty-nine patients with primary SS (PSS), 28 patients with secondary SS (SSS) and control group that couldn’t be diagnosed as SS were included in this study. Results: In DID analysis, Anti-SS-A antibody was detected in 69% of PSS and 86% of SSS, and anti-SS-B antibody was found in 22% of PSS and 39% of SSS. No significant difference could be demonstrated between PSS and SSS concerning anti-SS-A/B antibodies. Conversely, WB studies disclosed evidences that 18% of PSS and no SSS reacted only with the 52 kD protein, and there was significantly increased in PSS. Sera reacting with the 60 kD antigen were found in 37% of PSS, 71% of SSS, and 75% of SSS with SLE, 63% of SSS with RA. The ratio of SSS, and SSS with SLE were particularly significantly higher than PSS. Conclusion: Our results revealed data that there are the difference of reactivity against SS-A/B antigens in WB between PSS and SSS. © 2003, The Japan Society for Clinical Immunology. All rights reserved.