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Histones are basic proteins, which bind to DNA within the nuclei of all cells. IgG antibodies to H2A-H2B histones are found in nearly all patients with symptomatic procainamide induced lupus, 19% of asymptomatic patients treated with procainamide, and 20% of SLE patients. Hydralazine induced lupus is also associated with anti-histone antibodies, with specificity for H3 and H4 histones. Anti-histone antibodies have also been found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, vasculitis, and undifferentiated rheumatic disease syndromes. A positive ANA is necessary to make a diagnosis of drug induced lupus, but detection of histone antibody does not provide much additional information that cannot be provided by clinical findings. Reference value is absent. Specimen requirement is one SST tube of blood. |
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