Testing antinuclear antibodies in relatives of patients with systemic lupus erithematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies, which deposit within tissues and fix complement leading to systemic inflammation (1). Is a heterogeneous disease with a continuum of disease activity. Some patients can have predominant skin and joint involvement, whereas others can present with organ-threatening diseases such as nephritis, cardiac involvement or even neurologic manifestations. Relatives of patients with SLE appear to be at higher risk of SLE and other autoimmune diseases, but estimates of individual familial risks are largely unavailable or unreliable (2,3). The purpose of ANA (antinuclear antibody) determination is generally to screen patients suspected from generalised autoimmune diseases, that is, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, Sjgren' s syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, or mixed connective tissue disease. Clinical and paraclinical studies are needed to reach a definitive diagnosis.