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The Immunofluorescent "Band" Test in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
- PETER M. LEVITIN, M.D.;
- PEYTON E. WEARY, M.D.; and
- VINCENT J. GIULIANO, M.D.
Abstract
Skin biopsy specimens from normal subjects and patients with mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis were examined for the presence of a "band" of immunoglobulins and complement at the dermal-epidermal junction, using immunofluorescent techniques. A positive immunofluorescent band test was found in the clinically uninvolved skin in three of six patients with mixed connective tissue disease, five of six patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and none of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis or normal subjects. Although a positive immunofluorescent band test in uninvolved skin has been considered to be fairly specific for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, our results suggest that this test cannot be used to distinguish mixed connective tissue disease from systemic lupus erythematosus.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, and the Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia.
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Grant support: in part by the John A. Hartford Foundation, U.S. Public Health Service (5R01-AM11766), and The Arthritis Foundation.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Peter M. Levitin, M.D., Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
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- Received September 23, 1974.
- Accepted January 7, 1975.
