Anti-Double Stranded DNA Antibody (Anti-dsDNA)

Antibodies against dsDNA are found during active phases of SLE. The amount of the serum concentration is positively correlated with the severity of the disease. Thus, detection of these autoantibodies is important for the diagnosis and the clinical monitoring of SLE. Consequently it has been established as 1 of the 11 ACR-criteria for the diagnosis of SLE. Most patients with SLE display IgG class antibodies against dsDNA. These autoantibodies are associated with lupus nephritis.

Approximately 30% of the SLE patients develop IgA class anti-dsDNA antibodies, additionally. There have been suggestions that the presence of these IgA class anti-dsDNA antibodies may define a certain subset of SLE patients. Indeed studies demonstrated the association of this subclass with certain parameters of the disease activity.