Antissa

Anti-SSA antibodies, also known as anti-Ro/SSA antibodies, are autoantibodies directed against components of the Ro/SSA ribonucleoprotein complex. The Ro/SSA antigen includes the Ro60 and Ro52 proteins, which can be targeted individually or together. These autoantibodies are commonly detected in sera from patients with autoimmune diseases and may be present before the onset of clinical symptoms in some individuals.

The antibodies are most commonly associated with Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In Sjögren's, anti-SSA antibodies occur in a substantial subset of patients and may be linked with extraglandular disease and, in some studies, an increased risk of lymphoma. In SLE, anti-SSA can be seen with cutaneous lupus and photosensitivity, often alongside other autoantibodies such as anti-SSB/La.

In pregnancy, maternal anti-SSA antibodies can cross the placenta and are a known cause of neonatal lupus, which can include transient skin findings and congenital heart block. The risk of congenital heart block is small but clinically significant for affected pregnancies and may recur in subsequent pregnancies if anti-SSA remains present.

Laboratory testing uses immunoassays that detect antibodies to Ro60 and Ro52, such as ELISA, line immunoassays, bead-based assays, or immunoblot methods, often as part of a broader autoimmune serology panel. A positive anti-SSA result supports the diagnosis in the appropriate clinical setting, but it is not disease-specific and should be interpreted with clinical findings and other autoantibody results.