To investigate the clinical value of anti-Sm antibodies in diagnosis and monitoring of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their ability to predict lupus flares compared with that of anti-dsDNA antibody and complement (C3) assays.
Complement C3 and C4 levels were consistently normal during flares of her lupus and haemolytic activity of her complement was absent, suggesting a deficiency of an early component of the complement cascade.No C1q could be detected.