The importance of anti-dsDNA antibodies screening as a useful tool for evaluation and tretment of patients with systemic rheumatic disease

Objective. Anti-Double Stranded DNA or anti-dsDNA antibodies are anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) typically produced by the immune system, who target the antigens of the double-stranded DNA. These anti-nuclear antibodies target the essential parts of the cell’s nucleus especially the genetic material. In normal condition the antibodies protect the organism from different types of infections and inflammations, contrary to that these anti-antibodies don’t differentiate their own cells. In those circumstances the anti-nuclear antibodies attack their own healthy cells, causing pathophysiological changes in the tissue and the organ itself. By direct binding to self-antigens or indirect formation of immune complexes, anti-dsDNA antibodies can be accumulated in the glomerular and tubular basal membranes. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by high-titer serological autoantibodies, including double-stranded DNA molecule (dsDNA) antibodies. The main objective of this research is to define the importance of anti-dsDNA antibodies screening as a useful tool for the evaluation and treatment of patients with systemic rheumatic disease. Methods. Evaluation and screening of anti-dsDNA antibodies is done and confirmed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on patients with SLE in the period from July to December 2020, monitored at the University Clinic for Rheumatology in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. Results: The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-dsDNA antibodies shows 98-100% specificity and 40-60% sensitivity for SLE. The prevalence for SLE is around 4/100.000 of the population, but more than 99% of the cases occur in young women, although there is no age range. Conclusion: If a patient has a positive ANA test results plus shows symptoms like SLE, the laboratory diagnostics and anti-dsDNA antibodies screening is very useful tool for evaluation and treatment of patients with systemic rheumatic disease. Early diagnostic of SLE and lupus nephritis is very important for suitable therapy, it could stop the progression of the disease, decrease the mortality, and increase the degree’s quality of life on these patients