Anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies in discoid lupus erythematosus--their clinical significance.

Fifty-two patients with discoid lupus erythematosus were examined with reference to systemic symptoms and the presence and titre of antinuclear antibody and anticardiolipin antibody were determined. Serological abnormalities were found in 62%. Antinuclear antibody was detected using epithelial derived cell lines in 56%, which is much higher than in previous series using mouse liver as the substrate. There was a definite association between positive antinuclear antibody and systemic symptoms. Anticardiolipin antibodies were found in low titre and were not associated with a thrombotic tendency, but were associated with antinuclear antibody