Comparative evaluation of various methods of detecting antibodies against soluble nuclear antigens.

Results of anti-ENA antibody employing double diffusion in agar gel, electroimmunoprecipitation (CIE) or passive hemagglutination were compared. The studies were performed on 164 patients including 79 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 46 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 25 patients with systemic sclerosis (PSS), 13 patients with polymyositis (PM) 5 patients with MCTD and on 30 healthy individuals. The obtained data prompt us to recommend demonstration and identification of anti-ENA antibodies in a screening type CIE assay followed by determination of their titer by hemagglutination test.