Anti-Histone Antibodies

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system targets the healthy cells of the body by mistake. Due to the genetic mutations, the body goes through hyperactivity or abnormally low activity of the immune system.

Lupus is one such autoimmune disease that affects the connective tissues of the body. It causes inflammation and tissue damage in various organs of the body. It also spreads to the joints, kidneys, skin, brain, lungs, and blood vessels.

There are various types of lupus disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and drug-induced lupus erythematosus. While both the diseases exhibit similar symptoms, the latter is caused by a reaction to certain drugs and doesn't impact significant organs of the body.

In addition, patients above the age of 50 or older undergoing medical treatments are more likely to develop DIL erythematosus. As a result of the reaction, the body produces anti-histones to counter the impact of the perceived pathogens, I.e., the body's healthy cells. Histones are a type of protein found in chromosomes and help in controlling the activity of genes.

The most common medications leading to drug-induced lupus erythematosus are: 

• Isoniazid
• Hydralazine
• Tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors (such as infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab)
• Minocycline
• Quinidine
• Procainamide
• Minocycline 
• Methyldopa
• Sulfasalazine
• Levamisole
• Quinidine 
• Capoten
• Chlorpromazine 
• Anti-seizures medications 
• Cancer immunotherapy medication like pembrolizumab

The DIL develops after months and sometimes years of consumption of the medicines. The most commonly seen symptoms of the disease include: 

• Muscular pain
• Joint pain with swelling
• Chronic fever
• Consistent tired feeling and fatigue 
• Weight loss
• Inflammation around lungs and heart
• Unexplainable pain and discomfort in the body

Since the signs and symptoms of DIL and SLE are similar, the diagnosis is very challenging. That's why medical experts prescribe an anti-histone antibody test. Other than various screening methods, including skin biopsy, the antibody blood test helps in conclusively determining the appearance of the symptoms.

Upon request, an authorized lab technician collects the blood sample of the patient to analyse the antibodies in the serum produced. The expert performs venipuncture on any body part of the patient, usually the arm. After cleaning the body part with antiseptic, the technician inserts a surgical needle to extract the blood from visible veins for anti-histone antibodies test.

Generally, the patient feels slight pain at the time of needle insertion, which subsides within a few minutes. The other symptoms, like bruising, also disappear in a few days. However, there might be a few complications that can occur in rare cases, such as: 

• Dizziness during blood collection
• A sudden drop in blood pressure 
• Temporary consciousness loss 
• Blood leakage at the site of venipuncture 
• Bruise formation
• Arterial thrombosis 
• Type 1 hypersensitivity reactions 
• Phlebitis 
• Sepsis

If the symptoms prolong even after 1-3 days after the collection, the patient must take immediate medical help.

Apollo 24|7 offers a verified network of 100 laboratories across the country for Antihistone antibodies blood tests. After detecting the presence of histones antibody, the doctor prescribes a number of treatments to alleviate the symptoms and control the progression, such as: 

• Discontinuation of reactionary drugs 
• Anti-inflammatory drugs 
• Corticosteroids