BACKGROUND: Lupus band test still has no clearly defined position within either 
diagnostic or disease activity measuring tools for systemic lupus erythematosus 
(SLE).
OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that positive LBT correlates with global 
activity of SLE measured by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score.
METHODS: In total, 90 SLE patients who underwent biopsy of sunprotected 
non-lesional (SPNL) skin were studied prospectively. The skin specimen was 
processed for standard direct immunofluorescence. The patients were classified 
into groups as negative and positive LBT, and the latter were further subdivided 
on the basis of the type and morphology of the deposits. Every patient was 
thoroughly examined and assigned a SLEDAI score. The relationship between LBT 
findings and SLEDAI score was analysed.
RESULTS: The disease was significantly more active in patients with positive LBT 
and in those with a higher number of deposited immunoreactants. Almost all 
patients with renal involvement had a positive LBT.
CONCLUSIONS: LBT on SPNL skin may be a good marker of severe disease at 
presentation, particularly when three immunoglobulins are found at the 
dermoepidermal junction.