Lupus band test

Deposition of IgG, IgM, IgA,_C1 and _C3 in the area of the moepidermal basement membrane zone detectable in direct immunofluorescence. In lupus erythematosus chronicus discoides, the lupus band test is only positive in the foci, whereas in systemic lupus erythematosus it is also positive in unaffected skin. The value of the lupus band test in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been increasingly questioned in the past.

In various. Various studies have shown that the disease activity (DNA-AK titre and kidney involvement are more pronounced than in the control group) was higher with a positive lupus band test (LTB) than with a negative result.

Other authors found no significant correlation between the positivity of the LBT and the overall activity of the disease. The type, number and pattern of deposited immune reactants also showed no correlation with disease activity (Wongtada C et al. 2022).

Even decades after the initial description, the question of the origin of the deposited immunoglobulins in the lupus band has still not been answered.

In systemic lupus erythematosus, the cause is discussed on the one hand as polyclonal B-cell activation, but on the other hand as autoantibody formation induced by autoantigens. Studies show that in > 90% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus either IgG1 or IgG3 were expressed_{in the} lupus band. This argues against polyclonal B cell activation as the sole cause of immunoglobulin deposition in the lupus band.

1. Alahlafi AM et al. (2004) The distribution of IgG subclasses in the lupus band suggests disease-specific alteration in subclass switching rather than polyclonal B-cell activation. Clin Exp Dermatol 29: 288-292

2. Wongtada C et al. (2022) Lupus band test for diagnostic evaluation in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 31:363-366.

3. Zecevic RD et al. (2006) Lupus band test and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: does it still matter? Clin Exper Dermatol 31: 358-360