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Antibodies to double-stranded DNA in blood

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025

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Normally, the concentration of antibodies to double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) in the blood serum is less than 30 IU/ml; 30-40 IU/ml are borderline values.

Antibodies to double-stranded (native) DNA are highly specific for systemic lupus erythematosus. There is a strong correlation between the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus and the titer of antibodies to double-stranded DNA in the blood serum. A single elevated titer of antibodies to double-stranded DNA allows a diagnostic but not prognostic conclusion to be made. When studying the titer of antibodies to DNA in dynamics, the absence of its decrease or an increase is considered an unfavorable prognostic sign. A decrease in the titer foretells remission or (sometimes) a fatal outcome. Antibodies may disappear during remission of the disease.

Frequency of detection of antibodies to double-stranded DNA in blood serum in various forms of systemic lupus erythematosus and other collagenoses

Diseases	Frequency,%
Systemic lupus erythematosus	5-55
Systemic lupus erythematosus with active kidney disease	89
Systemic lupus erythematosus with active extrarenal manifestations	56
Inactive systemic lupus erythematosus	32
Rheumatoid arthritis	0
Systemic scleroderma	0

Simultaneous determination of antinuclear antibodies (highly sensitive) and antibodies to double-stranded DNA (highly specific) in blood serum is the best combination for diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus.

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