SSA Antibody 2 (?)

My rheumatologist during my annual visit the other day informed me that about 7 years ago I tested positive for 'SSA Antibody 2' (I wrote down what I heard him say). He said this can explain my photo-sensitivity. I looked it up and found this: Anti-Ro/SSA and Anti-La/SSB Antibodies
www.the-rheumatologist.org/details/article/873239/Know_Your_Labs.html

He asked if I had dry eyes or dry mouth or tons of lower leg petechia, I don't. It also seems to be associated with ITP according to some of the other articles I found.

I was wondering if others of you had this.
Erica

The url above also says this:
Antibodies to Ro/SSA and La/SSB are most frequently detected by solid-phase immunoassays.28,29 Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB have been detected in high frequency in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and in SLE, but also in patients with photosensitive dermatitis, and in 0.1% to 0.5% of healthy adults.

Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are found in approximately 50% of patients with SLE. (See Table 2, p. 17.) They have been associated with photosensitivity, subacute cutaneous lupus, cutaneous vasculitis (palpable purpura), interstitial lung disease, neonatal lupus, and congenital heart block. Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are found in approximately 75% of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (see Table 2, p. 17), and high titers of these antibodies are associated with a greater incidence of extra glandular features, especially purpura and vasculitis. By contrast, Ro/SSA antibodies are present in only 10% to 15% of patients with secondary Sjögren’s syndrome associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the presence of Ro/SSA or anti-La/SSB antibodies in patients with suspected primary Sjögren’s syndrome strongly supports the diagnosis.

Approximately 50% of patients with SLE who have anti-Ro antibody also have anti-La antibody, a closely related RNA-protein antigen. Similarly, most patients with Sjögren’s syndrome also have anti-La (SSB) antibodies. It is exceedingly rare to find patients with anti-La antibodies without anti-Ro antibodies.

In my opinion, the indications for ordering an anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibody tests are as follows:

•Women with SLE who are pregnant or may become pregnant in the future;
•Women who have a history of giving birth to a child with heart block or myocarditis;
•Patients with a history of unexplained photosensitive skin eruptions;
•Patients strongly suspected of having SLE but who have a negative ANA test; or
•Patients with symptoms of xerostomia, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and/or salivary and lacrimal gland enlargement.

I haven't been tested for that in a long time, but it was negative at the time. I was only tested prior to and right after the Lupus diagnosis. Seems they don't care much once a person is diagnosed. Looking at your list of indications for testing, I guess it makes sense.