Antibodies to native type I and II collagens detected by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Anti-native type I and/or type II collagen antibodies measured by an immunoenzymatic immunosorbent assay were found to be present in 22.2% of the rheumatoid arthritis cases studied, 27.5% of systematic lupus erythematosus patients and 28.6% of patients with Overlap Syndrome. These antibodies were not associated with any particular clinical or radiological form of rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, antibodies to native type I and/or type II collagens were associated with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and antibodies to native type II collagen with rheumatoid arthritis which have antinuclear antibodies. In addition antibodies to native type I collagen were especially present in rheumatoid arthritis with extra-articular symptoms. Antibodies to native collagens disappear or are diminished after corticosteroid treatment. Unlike gold, D-penicillamine or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs have no effect on levels of antibodies to native type I and II collagens.