系统性红斑狼疮患者血清抗核小体抗体和脱氧核糖核酸酶Ⅰ活性的研究

目的：探讨血清抗核小体抗体和血清脱氧核糖核酸酶Ⅰ(deoxyribonuclease Ⅰ，DNase Ⅰ)的活性与系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)病情的关系。方法：采用间接ELISA法检测SLE患者血清抗核小体抗体浓度，DNA-甲基绿比色法测定其血清DNaseⅠ的活性。结果：SLE患者血清抗核小体抗体浓度明显高于正常对照，且与SLE病情活动程度、肾脏损害、血管炎及补体下降相关；SLE患者组血清DNase Ⅰ活性低于正常对照组，且与病情活动程度相关；血清抗核小体抗体浓度与DNase Ⅰ的活性成负相关。结论：抗核小体抗体是SLE的主要自身抗体之一，核小体刺激机体产生抗体的可能原因是DNase Ⅰ的活性下降。     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血清抗核小体抗体水平检测及其临床意义

目的探讨抗核小体抗体(AnuA)水平与红斑狼疮(LE)疾病亚型及其治疗前后的关系。方法采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定31例系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)、26例亚急性皮肤型红斑狼疮(SCLE)、7例盘状红斑狼疮(DLE)、6例硬皮病、5例皮肌炎患者和30例健康人血清AnuA水平,根据SLE患者临床表现及实验室检查指标,进行SLE疾病活动指数(SLEDAI)评分,并对LE患者AnuA进行治疗前后的比较。结果SLE患者血清AnuA水平与SCLE、DLE、硬皮病、皮肌炎患者和正常对照组相比显著增高(P均<0.01);SLE活动期患者血清AnuA水平与SLE非活动期相比显著增高(P均<0.01);SCLE、DLE、硬皮病患者血清AnuA水平两两相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),与皮肌炎、正常对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);皮肌炎患者和正常人对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。AnuA水平与SLEDAI有明显相关性(P=0.015,r=0.441),SLE患者治疗后血清AnuA水平与治疗前相比明显降低(P<0.05)。结论AnuA水平与LE的亚型和是否活动有相关性,对诊断疾病、监测病情活动和判断疗效有意义。     

Antinuclear antibodies and oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy (PUVA) for psoriasis.

In view of theoretical concern that psoralen ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) therapy might induce a systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome, we studied serum antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in patients with psoriasis who received PUVA and are participating in a five-year prospective study. At 14 centers, 1,023 patients had two or more ANA determinations. When first and last tests were compared, the incidence of positive tests for ANAs was not significantly different (P greater than .2). In addition, there was no apparent relationship between the frequency of PUVA treatments and the probability of a positive test. Over a two-year period, there is no evidence to indicate that PUVA therapy for psoriasis has resulted in a significantly higher number of positive tests for ANAs within our population.     

Relevance of complement fixing antinuclear antibodies

Background Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders defined by the association of a variety of clinical manifestations with immunologic and other laboratory findings. Overlap of syndromes and aberrant findings appear rather frequently. Methods Sera of eight antinuclear antibody (ANA) negative, cases of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) with antibodies to Ro (SS-A) and a ninth case with clinical and laboratory signs of Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were tested for complement (C′) fixing antinuclear antibodies (C-ANAs). The ninth case was examined in depth by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and a two-step “C + DIF” test of biopsies for C′ fixation to in vivo bound ANAs, as well as serum tests for C-ANA, ANA, and SCLE markers. Results Sera of five of the eight ANA negative, Ro(SS-A) positive SCLE cases had C-ANAs. The ninth case, a 50-year-old woman with clinical and laboratory signs of Sjögren’s syndrome and SLE, gave a strong positive C + DIF reaction in the skin biopsy for in vivo bound ANAs that fix C′, but negative ANAs and C-ANAs in routine serum tests; they revealed antimitochondrial antibodies. Serum tests on normal skin, however, revealed weak ANA and strong C-ANA reactions with in vitro fixed C′. Conclusions ANA negative cases of SCLE or Sjögren’s syndrome may have C-ANAs. A case with Sjögren’s syndrome and signs of SLE had both in vivo and in vitro C′ fixing ANAs. C-ANA tests can aid in the identification of such cases.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血清sCD14测定

目的 通过检测ＳＬＥ患者血清ｓＣＤ１４水平,研究其与ＳＬＥ有关指标的关系,以ＣＤ１４在ＳＬＥ发病中的作用。方法 收集ＳＬＥ患者和正常人群血甭,用双抗体夹心ＥＬＩＳ法测Ａ值,在标准曲线上查ｓＣＤ１４含量。结果 ９４例ＳＬＥ患者血清ｓＣＤ１４较正常对照人群显著增高,且活动期高于缓解期,与疾病活动指数,ＡＮＡ滴度呈显著正相关,与Ｃ３显著负相关。     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血清及脑脊液中C-反应蛋白的水平及临床意义

目的　探讨系统性红斑狼疮 (SLE)患者血清和脑脊液 (CSF)中C 反应蛋白 (CRP)的水平及临床意义。方法　对 2 5例SLE患者进行血清和CSF中CRP及抗核抗体 (ANA )的检测 ,分析血清CRP与CSFCRP、血清CRP与血清ANA、CSFCRP与CSFANA的相关性。结果　①直线相关分析显示 ,血清CRP与CSFCRP水平呈正相关 (r =0 .4465,P =0 .0 42 5) ;②等级相关分析显示 ,血清CRP与血清ANA、CSFCRP与CSFANA均无明显相关性 (rs′分别为-0 .0 2 2、-0 .0 14 8,P均 >0 .0 5)。结论　①血清CRP水平与SLE活动性无明显关系 ,不能作为SLE活动指标 ;②SLE患者CSF中检出CRP ,其平均水平 2 .0 2± 0 .87mg/L ;③SLE患者CSF出现CRP的基础可能是血脑屏障受损 ,提示临床上无脑损害的SLE患者血脑屏障可能已经发生了不同程度的损伤     

SLE患者外周血造血干/祖细胞的检测及临床意义

目的 探讨SLE患者外周血CD34+造血干/祖细胞（HSC/HPC）数目与CD34膜表达的变化。方法 采用异硫氰酸荧光素标记抗体,以流式细胞仪检测30例SLE患者和14例正常人外周血CD34+ HSC/HPC,分析CD34+ HSC/HPC细胞占全部淋巴细胞的百分比和CD34平均荧光强度,并结合临床资料进行相关性分析。结果 活动期和稳定期SLE患者外周血CD34+ HSC/HPC细胞占淋巴细胞百分比分别为（0.15 ± 0.10）%和（0.09 ± 0.07）%,低于正常人对照组［（0.37 ± 0.17）%,F = 17.18,P < 0.01］,而活动期和稳定期SLE患者差异无统计学意义（t = 1.51,P > 0.05）;活动期SLE患者外周血CD34抗原的平均荧光强度为41.35 ± 19.24,高于正常人对照组（27.43 ± 7.57,F = 3.13,P < 0.05）,而稳定期SLE患者与正常人对照组差异无统计学意义（F = 3.13,P > 0.05）。外周血CD34+ HSC/HPC细胞百分比与血清IgG水平呈负相关（r = -0.588,P < 0.01）,与SLE疾病活动指数（SLEDAI）、补体、抗dsDNA抗体、抗C1q抗体、抗核小体抗体等无统计学相关性。结论 SLE患者外周血CD34+ HSC/HPC细胞数减少,并且CD34抗原表达增加,提示SLE患者HSC/HPC功能存在异常,可能参与SLE的发病。     

Up-regulation of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein in peripheral blood B lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with clinical characteristics

Background  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease which is involved in T- and B-lymphocyte–mediated autoimmunity. Apoptosis contributes to the maintenance of lymphocytes homeostasis and the deletion of autoreactive cells in SLE. Although there is evidence that cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), an antiapoptosis protein, is increased in human lupus T cells to keep them from apoptosis, but the expression of apoptosis-regulatory protein c-FLIP in SLE B lymphocytes remains unknown.
Aims  To study the expression of c-FLIP in peripheral blood B lymphocytes in SLE patients and to investigate the relationship among the expression of c-FLIP in peripheral blood B lymphocytes in SLE patients, clinical manifestation and the levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10.
Methods  In this study, we detected the expression of c-FLIP in peripheral blood B lymphocytes in SLE patients by flow cytometry and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in SLE serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analysed their relationship with clinical characteristics.
Results  We observed a significantly higher percentage of c-FLIP in peripheral B cells in SLE patients with active disease when compared to inactive ones and healthy controls. And the expression of c-FLIP in lupus peripheral B cells showed positive correlations with SLEDAI, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, antinucleosome antibody titre, IL-4, and IL-10, and negative correlation with white blood cell count. Patients with lupus nephritis had higher levels of c-FLIP in peripheral B cells than patients without lupus nephritis.
Conclusion  Our data show that overexpression of c-FLIP is relevant to the activity and severity of SLE. Its overexpression might play a role in preventing B cell from apoptosis in SLE. The cause of c-FLIP overexpression may be due to the increase of IL-4 and IL-10 levels in SLE patients.     

Antinucleosome antibody is a major autoantibody in localized scleroderma

BACKGROUND: Localized scleroderma (LSc) exhibits autoimmunity, and antihistone antibody is frequently detected. The major antigens recognized by antihistone antibody are histones H1, H2A and H2B, which are located on the outer side of the nucleosome and are relatively more accessible for antibody binding. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that antihistone antibody is induced by nucleosome or native chromatin as immunogens in LSc. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether antinucleosome antibody is present in patients with LSc. METHODS: Antinucleosome antibody, antihistone antibody and antidouble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results IgG or IgM antinucleosome antibody was detected more frequently in patients with LSc than was antihistone antibody: in 40 of 49 (82%) vs. 26 of 49 (53%), respectively. No patients had anti-dsDNA antibody. The prevalence of antinucleosome antibody positivity was comparable in the three subgroups of LSc (generalized morphoea, 89%; linear scleroderma, 71%; morphoea, 90%). Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibited a similar frequency of antinucleosome antibody positivity (13 of 15, 87%), but their IgG levels of this autoantibody were much higher than those found in patients with LSc. By contrast, IgM antinucleosome antibody levels were normal in patients with SLE, while they were significantly increased in patients with LSc compared with normal controls. Antinucleosome antibody was also detected at lower frequency in patients with systemic sclerosis (five of 20, 25%) or dermatomyositis (five of 15, 33%). Nucleosome-restricted antibodies, i.e. antibodies that react with the whole nucleosome particle but not with its individual components (histones and dsDNA) were also present in 35% of patients with LSc. CONCLUSIONS: Although antinucleosome antibody was not specific to LSc, its high prevalence in LSc indicates that antinucleosome antibody is a major autoantibody in this disease.     

SLE患者血清DNA水平测定的临床意义

目的检测ＳＬＥ患者血清ＤＮＡ含量并探讨其在ＳＬＥ发病中的作用。方法用荧光分光光度法测定了６３例ＳＬＥ患者。结果ＳＬＥ患者血清ＤＮＡ含量明显高于正常人;活动期患者明显高于缓解期患者,但是伴肾功能损害的患者其血清ＤＮＡ水平普遍较低。血清ＤＮＡ水平与血沉、ＡＮＡ呈正相关;与Ｃ３、Ｃ４呈负相关;与抗ｄｓＤＮＡ抗体无相关;与病情积分呈正相关。结论ＳＬＥ患者存在ＤＮＡ的代谢异常,血中ＤＮＡ在ＳＬＥ的发生发展中起着一定作用,血清ＤＮＡ含量的测定可做为判断疾病活动的敏感指标。     

抗不同细胞核成分抗体与SLE病情活动不相关

目的 探讨系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者ANA、抗ds-DNA抗体及其他抗细胞核成分抗体水平与SLE病情的相关性。方法 选取2000-2002年我院皮肤与风湿科、肾内科住院及门诊就诊的SLE患者225例进行回顾性研究。用SLE疾病活动性指数(SLEDAI)进行病情活动性评分,按SLEDAI评分将患者分为轻度活动组(≤4分)、中度活动组(5~9分)及重度活动组(≥10分)3组。并对其中52例患者进行追踪观察。结果 ①225例患者抗dsDNA抗体水平和ANA滴度与SLEDAI无相关性(r₁=0.054、P₁=0.662,r₂=0.089、P₂=0.183)。②抗ds-DNA抗体水平在轻度活动组与中度活动组之间差异无显著性(P>0.05),重度活动组明显高于轻度活动组与中度活动组(P<0.01)。ANA滴度在3组之间差异均无显著性。抗Sm抗体、抗RNP抗体、抗SSA、SSB抗体的阳性率在3组之间差异均无显著性(P>0.05)。③根据抗ds-DNA抗体结合率将患者分为<20%(第1组)、≥20%(第2组)两组,两组SLE脑病、肺部病变、浆膜炎、血管炎、关节炎、血象异常的发生率差异无显著性(P>0.05),第2组肾脏损害的发生率高于第1组(P<0.05),但这些有肾脏损害的患者蛋白尿、肌酐水平与抗ds-DNA均无相关性(P>0.05)。④追踪观察52例中30例高度活动组患者抗ds-DNA抗体水平在治疗前高于治疗后(P<0.05),而22例轻、中度活动组抗ds-DNA水平在治疗前后差异无显著性(P>0.05).结论在重度活动组,抗ds-DNA抗体水平与SLE疾病活动有一定相关性;在稳定期,与疾病无相关性.ANA等其他自身抗体与SLE疾病活动无相关性.虽然抗ds-DNA抗体结合率≥20%的患者易伴有肾损害,但与严重程度无相关性.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者外周血单一核细胞CD23的表达

为了揭示Ｂ细胞中ＣＤ２３的表达与ＳＬＥ发生发展的关系及在ＳＬＥ发病机理中可能的作用，我们应用ＡＢＣ免疫组化法和斑点核酸杂交技术对ＳＬＥ患者外周血单一核细胞（ＰＢＭＣ）ＣＤ２３蛋白和ｍＲＮＡ表达进行了检测。结果显示：３０例ＳＬＥ患者ＰＢＭＣＣＤ２３蛋白表达显著增高（Ｐ＜０．０１），且与疾病活动呈正相关关系（ｒｓ＝０．３８１４，Ｐ＜０．０５）；具有不同ＡＮＡ、抗ｄｓＤＮＡ抗体水平，有无伴肾损、脑损的ＳＬＥ患者，ＰＢＭＣＣＤ２３表达均无显著性差异（Ｐ均＞０．０５）；单纯使用皮质类固醇激素治疗或和其它免疫抑制剂联合治疗的ＳＬＥ患者，ＰＢＭＣＣＤ２３表达亦无显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。２０例ＳＬＥ患者ＰＢＭＣＣＤ２３ｍＲＮＡ表达较正常人显著增高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。经治疗病情稳定后，ＣＤ２３蛋白和ｍＲＮＡ表达均降至正常（Ｐ均＞０．０５）。提示在ＳＬＥ活动期Ｂ细胞高度激活、增殖并大量表达ＣＤ２３，且该种表达与ＡＮＡ、抗ｄｓＤＮＡ抗体产生水平无直接关系     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血栓调节蛋白检测及其临床意义

目的 通过血浆可溶性血栓调节蛋白（ｓＴＭ）的检测,探讨血管内皮细胞损伤与ＳＬＥ临床表现、凝血障碍的关系。方法 采用酶联免疫吸附法（ＥＬＩＳＡ）检测４０例ＳＬＥ患者血浆ｓＴＭ水平。结果①ＳＬＥ患者血浆ｓＴＭ水平显著增高,并与疾病活动性呈正相关,而与血沉ＡＮＡ、补体Ｃ３间无显著相关性;②ＳＬＥ患者中有肾损组血浆ｓＴＭ水平显著高于朊肾损组,并与２４ｈ尿蛋白定量呈正相关;③ＳＬＥ患者血清ｓＴＭ水平与纤维蛋     

系统性红斑狼疮患者Th1、Th2细胞因子偏移与类风湿因子和抗心磷脂抗体的相关性研究

目的评估系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者血清中反映Th1/Th2细胞活性的白介素12(IL-12)和白介素13(IL-13)水平的偏移,是否与循环中特异类型的类风湿因子(RF)和抗心磷脂抗体(aCL)相关.方法采用ELISA方法检测31例SLE患者和31例健康志愿者的血清IL-12、IL-13、RF和aCL,采用间接免疫荧光技术和放射免疫扩散法检测自身抗体和免疫球蛋白.结果血清IL-13水平与IgM-RF和IgM-aCL相关,相关系数分别为(0.426;P＜0.01)和(0.328;P＜0.05),但与IgA-RF,IgG-RF,IgG-aCL和总IgG,IgA和IgM水平无关联.IL-12/IL-13比率小于1组别的IgM-RF和IgM-aCL水平较其他组明显升高.结论SLE患者IgM-RF和IgM-aCL水平的升高与Th2细胞活性占优势成正相关,Th2活性优于Th1活性可能促使SLE患者自身抗体的产生.     

Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies. Association with a particulate (large speckledlike thread) immunofluorescent nuclear staining pattern

Twenty-one patients with clinical and histopathologic evidence of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and one patient with Sj?gren's syndrome and vasculitis had anti-Ro/SSA (Sj?gren's syndrome A) antibodies as demonstrated by double immunodiffusion assay using a saline extract of human spleen as the source of antigen. These serum samples were negative when tested for other nuclear antigens, including native DNA, Sm, and RNP. When tested for antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) by immunofluorescence, only ten of 22 serum samples were ANA positive on mouse liver substrate, while 18 of 22 had a positive ANA when HEp-2 tumor cells were utilized. With imprints of human spleen as test substrate, all 22 serum samples yielded a positive ANA result and a particulate (large speckledlike thread) staining pattern. Absorption of two of these serum samples with human spleen extract containing Ro/SSA antigen inhibited both the particulate staining pattern using human spleen imprints and the anti-Ro/SSA precipitin line by double immunodiffusion. These studies suggest that anti-Ro/SSA antibodies and antibodies producing the particulate nuclear staining pattern on human spleen imprints are either one and the same or closely paralleling antibody systems.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者尿新喋呤水平检测及其临床意义

用反相高效液相色谱法测定30例SLE患者尿新喋呤水平。结果表明;①SLE患者尿新喋呤水平明显增高。②SLE患者尿新喋呤水平与疾病活动性呈显着正相关,随临床治疗有效、疾病活动性下降,尿新喋呤水平下降。③尿新喋呤水平与血沉呈显着正相关,与ANA、抗ds-DNA抗体、补体C3间无相关关系。分析表明原新喋呤可作为判断SLE疾病活动性及临床疗效的指标。     

血清抗核抗体谱在梅毒诊断中的临床研究

目的: 评价血清抗核抗体谱（ANAs）在梅毒诊断中的临床意义。方法:对220例梅毒明胶颗粒凝集试验（TPPA）阳性者和220例TPPA阴性的健康体检者采用免疫印迹法检测ANAs。结果: 220例TPPA阳性者中,SSA阳性24例（10.9%）;Ro-52阳性37例（16.8%）;DsDNA阳性8例（4.0%）;PCNA阳性16例（7.2%）;Po阳性 7例（3.2%）;SSB阳性 17例（7.7%）。所有ANAs阳性率显著高于健康对照组（P<0.01）。TRUST阳性与阴性患者相比,ANAs阳性率无显著差异（P>0.05）。女性的SSA、Ro-52和SSB的阳性率明显高于男性（P<0.05）。45岁以下的TPPA阳性者ANAs阳性率较低,46～75岁TPPA阳性者ANAs阳性率有逐渐增高的趋势。结论:感染梅毒可能增加自身免疫病的风险,检测ANAs有利于评估和防治梅毒感染患者免疫损伤,减少自身免疫病的发生,但对梅毒的临床诊断参考意义不大。     

Elevated serum MFG‐E8 level is possibly associated with the presence of high‐intensity cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Human milk fat globule‐EGF factor 8 (MFG‐E8), also known as lactadherin, is a secreted glycoprotein that plays essential roles in the clearance of apoptotic cells and angiogenesis. It has been reported that serum MFG‐E8 levels are higher in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared with in healthy controls; however, a previous study reported no correlation between serum MFG‐E8 levels and SLE disease activity. The objective of this study was to assess serum MFG‐E8 levels and their clinical associations in patients with SLE. Serum MFG‐E8 levels in 49 Japanese patients with SLE, eight with cutaneous LE, and 28 healthy controls were examined. Serum MFG‐E8 levels in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in cutaneous LE patients and healthy individuals. In addition, serum MFG‐E8 levels were positively correlated with the SLE Disease Activity Index score, which reflects the disease activity of SLE. Notably, the frequency of the presence of high‐intensity cerebral lesions on MRI in the SLE patients with elevated serum MFG‐E8 levels was significantly higher than that in SLE patients with normal serum MFG‐E8 levels. These findings suggest that elevated serum MFG‐E8 levels may be associated with cerebrovascular diseases or neuropsychiatric SLE in patients with SLE, and that the measurement of serum MFG‐E8 levels in SLE patients is useful for risk stratification of cerebrovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease‐related neuropsychiatric SLE.     

能与SLE患者血清总IgG抗体识别的噬菌体抗原表位模拟肽的研究

目的：从噬菌体随机肽库中，筛选能与SLE患者血清总IgG抗体特异结合的SLE相关抗原表位的噬菌体模拟肽，并寻找对SLE敏感性和特异性均高的模拟肽。方法：制备SLE患者血清总IgG抗体，以此作为筛选配基，按“吸附一洗脱一扩增”的淘洗过程，对噬菌体随机12肽库进行3轮免疫筛选，随机挑取噬菌体克隆并进行初步鉴定，最后取混合阳性克隆检测SLE患者和正常人血清，分析其与SLE反应的敏感性和特异性。结果：经3轮免疫淘洗后，特异结合的噬菌体富集增加近100倍。随机挑取的11个噬菌体克隆，经鉴定均能与总IgG抗体产生特异性反应，阳性率100%。混合的阳性克隆与SLE反应的敏感性和特异性分别为80%、和67％。结论：利用SLE患者血清总IgG抗体筛选噬菌体随机肽库，能获得多种SLE相关抗原表位的噬菌体模拟肽，因其对SLE的敏感性和特异性均高，故有潜在的诊断价值，有望利用该技术开发SLE特异性IgG抗体检测试剂盒.     

Autoantibodies other than antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are not positive in patients with psoriasis vulgaris

There is a great deal of evidences that a link may exist between psoriasis and autoimmunity. In this study, thirty-six patients with psoriasis vulgaris and twenty healthy controls were screened for antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-ds-DNA antibodies, anti-SSA (anti-Ro), anti-SSB (anti-La), anti-Scl-70, anti-Jo-1, rheumatoid factor (RF), C3 and C4 levels, IgG and IgM anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA and cANCA) in order to determine the role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis. In addition, the MPO-ANCA test was performed on pANCA-positive patients. In ANA screening, one patient showed 1/80 granular positivity. No positive results were obtained from either the study or control groups for anti-dsDNA, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anti-Scl-70, or anti-Jo-1 determinations. For RF, 5.8% of the patients had positive values. Both C3 and C4 levels were found to be significantly elevated in psoriasis patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). IgG-aCL and IgM-aCL positivity was not significantly different between the two group. pANCA was positive in 33.3% of the patients and a significant difference was observed between study and control groups (p<0.05). MPO-ANCA was negative in all the pANCA-positive patients. In conclusion, only serum C3 and C4 levels and pANCA determinations showed significant differences when compared to healthy controls. Our findings may be evidence of associations between autoimmunity and psoriasis vulgaris. However, more detailed studies in this field need to be done to determine the relationship between them.