ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH SCLERODERMA (SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS) AND IN THEIR BLOOD RELATIVES AND SPOUSES

Objective-To test the postulate that there is a higher prevalence of a ntinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in serum samples from blood relatives and from spouses of patients with scleroderma than in control samples, an d that this provides evidence for both genetic and environmental facto rs influencing autoimmunity in scleroderma. Method-Testing for ANAs wa s performed on SS patients with scleroderma, 30 of their spouses, 74 f irst degree relatives, and 66 control subjects broadly age matched to the patients, their spouses, and about half of the relatives (siblings and parents). Results-On the basis of an ANA titre of >40 as positive , 12 (18%) of the controls, SS (95%) of the patients, one (3%) of the spouses and five (7%) of the relatives would be classified as positive . Thirty seven (64%) of the patients had defined specificities (ACA, S cl 70, Ul (RNP)) but none of the controls, spouses, or relatives had a ntibodies of these specificities. Conclusion-These findings give no su pport to the postulate that environmental or genetic factors contribut e to the ANAs in scleroderma.