N Mairesse1, M F Kahn, T Appelboom. 1. Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Nucleaire, University of Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE, PATIENTS, AND METHODS: This report documents the finding of an elevated titer of IgG reacting with the constitutive bovine 73-kd heat shock protein (HSP) in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Further characterization of antibodies from patients with MCTD showed that the antibodies also recognize the human constitutive 73-kd HSP, but not the inducible 72-kd isoform. Very high levels of antibodies appeared to be specific for MCTD; the differences between levels in patients with MCTD and those in healthy subjects (blood donors) were highly significant (p < 10(-8)), with no values in this group of patients overlapping with those in the controls. This parameter might therefore represent a new diagnostic marker for this disease.
PURPOSE, PATIENTS, AND METHODS: This report documents the finding of an elevated titer of IgG reacting with the constitutive bovine 73-kd heat shock protein (HSP) in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Further characterization of antibodies from patients with MCTD showed that the antibodies also recognize the human constitutive 73-kd HSP, but not the inducible 72-kd isoform. Very high levels of antibodies appeared to be specific for MCTD; the differences between levels in patients with MCTD and those in healthy subjects (blood donors) were highly significant (p < 10(-8)), with no values in this group of patients overlapping with those in the controls. This parameter might therefore represent a new diagnostic marker for this disease.
Authors: G Hayem; M De Bandt; E Palazzo; S Roux; B Combe; J F Eliaou; J Sany; M F Kahn; O Meyer Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 1999-05 Impact factor: 19.103