OBJECTIVE: To compare sensitivity and specificity of autoantibodies to alpha-fodrin with conventional anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Data on internal organ manifestations were correlated with presence of autoantibodies. METHODS: We collected clinical and laboratory data from 321 patients with pSS (Copenhagen criteria), of which 205 fulfilled the new American-European 2002 consensus criteria. Sera were tested for autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin and recombinant Ro-52, Ro-60, and La proteins. RESULTS: Antibodies to alpha-fodrin were not diagnostically superior to conventional anti-Ro/La testing. IgG anti-La had the highest specificity (97%). A highly significant association was found between presence of anti-La and internal organ manifestations (OR 6, 95% CI 2.99-12.03) or hematological abnormalities. The pattern of autoantibodies was relatively independent of disease duration, indicating that these antibodies appeared early in pSS, probably even years before the first symptoms were manifest. CONCLUSION: We could not confirm that antibodies to alpha-fodrin had higher specificity or sensitivity than anti-Ro/La. Anti-La antibodies were strongly correlated to organ involvement and cytopenias, and thus could serve as a prognostic marker in pSS.
OBJECTIVE: To compare sensitivity and specificity of autoantibodies to alpha-fodrin with conventional anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Data on internal organ manifestations were correlated with presence of autoantibodies. METHODS: We collected clinical and laboratory data from 321 patients with pSS (Copenhagen criteria), of which 205 fulfilled the new American-European 2002 consensus criteria. Sera were tested for autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin and recombinant Ro-52, Ro-60, and La proteins. RESULTS: Antibodies to alpha-fodrin were not diagnostically superior to conventional anti-Ro/La testing. IgG anti-La had the highest specificity (97%). A highly significant association was found between presence of anti-La and internal organ manifestations (OR 6, 95% CI 2.99-12.03) or hematological abnormalities. The pattern of autoantibodies was relatively independent of disease duration, indicating that these antibodies appeared early in pSS, probably even years before the first symptoms were manifest. CONCLUSION: We could not confirm that antibodies to alpha-fodrin had higher specificity or sensitivity than anti-Ro/La. Anti-La antibodies were strongly correlated to organ involvement and cytopenias, and thus could serve as a prognostic marker in pSS.
Authors: Jane C Yaciuk; Yujun Pan; Karen Schwarz; Zi-Jian Pan; Jacen S Maier-Moore; Stanley D Kosanke; Christina Lawrence; A Darise Farris Journal: J Immunol Date: 2015-01-12 Impact factor: 5.422