[Detection of anti-DNA antibodies by electroimmunodiffusion. Comparison of the results with the study of antinuclear factors by immunofluorescence].

The detection of anti-DNA antibodies was carried out by the electroimmunodiffusion method. The results were compared to those of the immunofluorescent method for anti-nuclear factors. Positive results were obtained with the electroimmunodiffusion method in 86% of the lupus erythematosus cases, 77% of the sero-positive rhumatoid polyarthritis cases and 67% of the scleroderma cases. They are comparable to those obtained by other methods. The electroimmunodiffusion method allowed in 3 out of 54 sera to defect anti-DNA antibodies although no anti-nuclear factor was found.