Description
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune-mediated, chronic inflammatory illness with variable clinical presentation, ranging from localised skin lesions to a destructive systemic disorder without cutaneous changes (1). Antibodies to double-stranded (ds)DNA are a well-known, specific marker for SLE with a prevalence from 50-90%, depending on disease severity (2, 3, 4). Their titre often correlates with disease activity (5). Circulating Anti-DNA/-DNA immune complexes are considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE (6). dsDNA-antibodies constitute a SLE criterion according to the American Rheumatism Association (ARA)