DETECTION OF ANTIRIBOSOMAL P-PROTEIN ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS

This study investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of an ti-ribosomal P protein (anti-P) antibodies in patients with systemic s clerosis (SSc). Serum samples from 150 patients with SSc were examined by indirect immunofluorescence ELISA and immunoblotting. Anti-P antib odies were detected in four (3%) patients with SSc. Three of the four patients showed SSc/SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) overlap syndrom e, but psychiatric disorders were not observed in these patients. By l ongitudinal immunoblotting analysis one patient, who was initially dia gnosed with SSc, later developed anti-P antibodies along with clinical manifestations of SLE. Our data suggest that anti-P antibodies are un common in SSc and that the presence of anti-P antibodies in patients w ith SSc indicates an overlap with SLE.