The protein is targeted by autoantibodies in rheumatic diseases, and Ro52 autoantibodies are specifically associated with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and photosensitivity.
HLA class II allele distributions did not differ among 3 anti-Ro/SS-A positive groups with different disease expressions, i.e., patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, and women with no apparent symptoms of rheumatic disease.