ANTI SMITH ANTIGEN

This study investigated the association between anti-Smith (Sm) antibodies and disease activity in newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Among 92 patients initially tested, 67 were followed for 12 months. While baseline disease activity (SLEDAI) was similar regardless of anti-Sm antibody presence, the antibody levels at diagnosis correlated significantly with SLEDAI (P = 0.003). At 12 months, patients with anti-Sm antibodies exhibited higher SLEDAI and anti-dsDNA levels compared to those without (P = 0.002). Changes in anti-Sm antibody levels over 12 months correlated with SLEDAI alterations (P = 0.029). These findings imply that monitoring anti-Sm antibodies could aid in assessing disease activity in new-onset SLE patients.