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Medical Definition of Ku antibodies
1. Ku antibodies (a DNA-binding protein) are found in approximately 15-50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren syndrome and scleroderma, in about 5- 15% of patients with myositis in the United States and possibly in a larger proportion in Japan and in about 23% (7/31) of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. Availability of the cloned Ku antigen (Ku is now known to be identical to Ki antigen, p70/p80 antigen and nuclear factor IV, a dimeric 70 kD ([cell-surface] and 86 kD DNA-binding protein) may help clarify the clinical utility, if any, of assays for Ku antibodies, which are reactive with the 70 kD component of Ku in some patients with Graves disease. (05 Mar 2000)