Elevated levels of serum antibodies against Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study was undertaken to investigate whether levels of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan antibodies (ASCMAs), a serological marker for Crohn's disease, seronegative spondyloarthritis and Behcet's disease, also correlate with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans. Serum samples from healthy volunteers (n = 152) and patients with SLE (n = 40) were compared for ASCMA-IgA, -IgG and -IgM levels using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. ASCMA-IgG, but not IgM and IgA, prevalence was significantly raised in active SLE patients (57.5%) compared with healthy controls (8.5%). ASCMA-IgG levels in SLE patients during remission were relatively lower, indicating a possible correlation with disease activity. These results differ from a previous study, which did not detect a difference between ASCMA levels in SLE patients and healthy control. It remains to be evaluated whether elevated ASCMA-levels are common to all rheumatic disorders.