SLEの診断に用いられる検査法：展望

Laboratory Procedures Used in the Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review

　SLEの患者の発見及び処置にどの方法が最も有効であるかを決めるために，SLEの診断の助けとなる現在用いられている検査法に関する文献が検討された．かつてはSLEの診断の検査の基本であったLE細胞テストは感度不良，非特異的で患者の臨床状態と一致しないと結論された．第2検査法である抗核抗体法は，感度は良いがSLEに特異的ではなかった．ゆえに，その価値はSLEの除外スクリーニング法に限られる．Farr抗DNA沈降免疫反応は，DNAの抗体の測定に使われるが，感度良好で特異的で，また，患者の臨床状態と合致した．ゆえに，Farr bindingassayが検査法として選択されるべきである．なぜなら疾病の模様を知るのに役立ち，また，SLE患者の早期診断と正しい処置に寄与する．

The literature concerning the laboratory procedures presently available to aid in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was reviewed to determine which of these techniques could be most valuable in the detection and management of SLE patients. The LE cell test, once the laboratory basis for SLE diagnosis, was concluded to be insensitive, nonspecific^*2, and did not correspond to clinical activity of the patient. A second procedure, antinuclear-antibody detection, although very sensitive, was not specific for SLE ; therefore, its value is limited for use as a screening technique to rule out SLE. The Farr^*3 anti-DNA^*4 precipitate immunoassay, used for the measurement of antibodies to DNA, was sensitive and specific, and also correlated well with the clinical condition of the patient. Therefore, the Farr binding assay is recommended as the laboratory procedure of choice since it is useful in monitoring disease activity and may contribute to earlier diagnosis and more precise management of SLE patients.