Antibodies to nucleic acid antigens in selective IgA deficiency.

Antibodies to nucleic acid antigens were measured in symptomatic and asymptomatic IgA-deficient individuals, non-IgA-deficient blood donors, and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There was no increase in mean levels of antibodies to nucleic acid antigens (native or denatured DNA, transfer RNA) in the IgA-deficient group, although 4 of 100 IgA-deficient blood donors had persistently increased levels of antibody to native DNA. IgA deficiency has been previously shown to be associated with SLE, but there does not appear to be an intrinsic association between IgA deficiency and antibodies to nucleic acid antigens.