In SLE, which antibody level tends to reflect disease activity?

• A. lupus anticoagulant
• B. anti-dsDNA
• C. anti-SSA
• D. anti-beta2 glycoprotein I

Answer: (B)

Anti-dsDNA antibodies are the antibody level that tends to reflect lupus activity. They are highly specific for SLE, and their titers rise during active disease, especially with renal involvement. The disease activity also drives formation of immune complexes with dsDNA, which triggers complement consumption (lower C3/C4) and inflammatory tissue damage. So a rising anti-dsDNA titer often signals a flare and a decreasing titer suggests response to treatment. In contrast, lupus anticoagulant and anti-beta2 glycoprotein I relate more to thrombotic risk (antiphospholipid syndrome) than to overall disease activity, and anti-SSA is not consistently tied to fluctuations in lupus activity.