Recognition of the dense fine speckled (DFS) pattern remains challenging: results from an international internet-based survey
Conclusions
Recognizing the DFS ANA IIF pattern and mixed IIF patterns composed of DFS + clinically relevant ANA patterns poses a significant challenge. Consequently, it seems imperative that DFS-specific immunoassays should be used to confirm the presence of anti-DFS70 antibodies before definitive results are reported to physicians. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - July 8, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
An unusual association of three autoimmune disorders: celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
We describe a case of a young man with a clinical history of psychiatric symptoms and celiac disease (CD) who was diagnosed to have other two autoimmune disorders: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This case is unusual upon different patterns: the rare combination of the three autoimmune diseases, their appearance in a man and the atypical onset of the diseases with psychiatric symptoms likely to be related either to CD or to SLE. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - July 5, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
The relative merits of therapies being developed to tackle inappropriate (‘self’-directed) complement activation
Abstract
The complement system is an enzyme cascade that helps defend against infection. Many complement proteins occur in serum as inactive enzyme precursors or reside on cell surfaces. Complement components have many biologic functions and their activation can eventually damage the plasma membranes of cells and some bacteria. Although a direct link between complement activation and autoimmune diseases has not been found, there is increasing evidence that complement activation significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of a large number of inflammatory diseases that may have autoimmune linkage. The ...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - March 3, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
The relative merits of therapies being developed to tackle inappropriate ( ‘self’-directed) complement activation
< h3 class= " a-plus-plus " > Abstract < /h3 > < p class= " a-plus-plus " > The complement system is an enzyme cascade that helps defend against infection. Many complement proteins occur in serum as inactive enzyme precursors or reside on cell surfaces. Complement components have many biologic functions and their activation can eventually damage the plasma membranes of cells and some bacteria. Although a direct link between complement activation and autoimmune diseases has not been found, there is increasing evidence that complement activation significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of a large number of inflammatory ...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - March 2, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Nailfold videocapillaroscopy and serum VEGF levels in scleroderma are associated with internal organ involvement
Conclusions
Our data suggest the importance of NVC not only for the diagnosis, but also for the global evaluation of SSc patients. Of note, serum VEGF levels may act as a biomarker of interstitial lung involvement. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - February 15, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Behçet’s disease physiopathology: a contemporary review
This study presents a current immunological review of the disease and provides a synopsis of clinical aspects and treatment options. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - February 12, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Beh çet’s disease physiopathology: a contemporary review
This study presents a current immunological review of the disease and provides a synopsis of clinical aspects and treatment options. < /p > (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - February 11, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Disease prevalence in a rural Andean population of central Peru: a focus on autoimmune and allergic diseases
Conclusions
Although a study of this nature cannot definitively support or refute the hygiene hypothesis, it does provide a novel snapshot of disease prevalence in rural Andean villages of central Peru. The study could serve as a basis to implement basic public health interventions and prepare for future missions to the same or comparable regions. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - February 10, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Simultaneous detection of celiac disease-specific IgA antibodies and total IgA
Conclusions
The novel multiplex CytoBead CeliAK enables simultaneous CD-specific autoAb and IgA deficiency analyses comparable with classical testing by single-parameter assays. Thus, comprehensive CD serology by CytoBead can alleviate the workload in routine laboratories. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - January 30, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
International consensus on ANA patterns (ICAP): the bumpy road towards a consensus on reporting ANA results
This report outlines the issues that impact on two major different reporting methods. Although it was appreciated by all participants that cytoplasmic and mitotic patterns are clinically relevant, implications for existing diagnostic/classification criteria for ANA-associated diseases in particular hampered a final consensus on this topic. Evidently, a more concerted action of all relevant stakeholders is required. Future ICAP workshops may help to facilitate this action. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - January 30, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Establishment of the upper reference limit for thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies according to the guidelines proposed by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry: comparison of five different automated methods
Conclusions
Differences in URLs could result from the different coating preparations of the TPO antigen (purified native or recombinant) on solid phase, which affect the proper exposure of the immunodominant epitopes recognized by the polyclonal antibodies present in serum of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). Based on these findings, we suggest to overcome the proposal of the NACB guidelines which recommend to involve a single group of young male subjects, and propose, instead, to utilize two distinct groups: one of males and one of females. This new proposal removes the apparent contra...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - November 18, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Typical evanescent and atypical persistent polymorphic cutaneous rash in an adult Brazilian with Still’s disease: a case report and review of the literature
Abstract
Adult onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a systemic auto-inflammatory condition of unknown etiology, characterized by high fever, an evanescent, salmon-pink maculopapular skin rash, arthralgia or arthritis and leukocytosis. AOSD can also present with atypical cutaneous manifestations, such as persistent pruritic coalescent papules or plaques and linear lesions that have highly distinctive pathological features and are usually associated with severe disease. Herein, we present a 31-year-old Brazilian man with both typical Still’s rash and atypical persistent polymorphic cutaneous manifestations...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - November 18, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Automation, consolidation, and integration in autoimmune diagnostics
Abstract
Over the past two decades, we have witnessed an extraordinary change in autoimmune diagnostics, characterized by the progressive evolution of analytical technologies, the availability of new tests, and the explosive growth of molecular biology and proteomics. Aside from these huge improvements, organizational changes have also occurred which brought about a more modern vision of the autoimmune laboratory. The introduction of automation (for harmonization of testing, reduction of human error, reduction of handling steps, increase of productivity, decrease of turnaround time, improvement of safet...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - August 1, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
IgG4-related disease: case report and literature review
Abstract
IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is relatively a new growing entity of immune-mediated origin, characterized by a mass-forming lesion, the infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells and occasionally elevated serum IgG4. It is considered to be both a systemic inflammation and sclerosing disease. The most common manifestations are parotid and lacrimal swelling, lymphadenopathy and autoimmune pancreatitis. Sclerosing cholangitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis are among the other mentioned frequent manifestations. The diagnosis should be approved histo-pathologically but other conditions such as lympho...
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - August 1, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Decreased serum cell-free DNA levels in rheumatoid arthritis
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that cfDNA levels are strongly reduced in the sera of established RA patients, which is not caused by changes in DNase activity. Measurement of cfDNA can distinguish established RA patients from early RA patients. Thus, cfDNA may serve as a biomarker in RA. (Source: Autoimmunity Highlights)
Source: Autoimmunity Highlights - August 1, 2015 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
