Associations between anti-Ro52 antibodies and lung fibrosis in mixed connective tissue disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

MCTD is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder defined by the combined presence of serum anti-RNP antibodies and distinct clinical features, including progressive lung fibrosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential impact of anti-SSA (i.e. Ro52 and Ro60) and anti-SSB autoantibodies as markers for disease outcomes in MCTD.

METHODS:

Stored serum samples from 113 patients included in the cross-sectional, nationwide Norwegian MCTD cohort were screened for the presence of anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60 and anti-SSB by a commercial line immunoassay. Correlation analyses were carried out with clinical parameters, including quantitative lung fibrosis scores by high-resolution CT. Lung fibrosis was defined by reticular pattern changes according to the Fleischner Society CT criteria for interstitial lung disease.

RESULTS:

Anti-Ro52 antibodies were present in 29%, anti-Ro60 in 19% and anti-SSB in 6% of the MCTD sera. High-resolution CT scoring identified lung fibrosis in 38 of 113 (34%) MCTD patients. Anti-Ro52 antibodies were detected in 50% (19 of 38) of the MCTD patients with lung fibrosis and in 19% (14 of 75) without lung fibrosis (P < 0.001). The odds ratio for the presence of anti-Ro52 antibodies in lung fibrosis was 4.4 (95% CI 1.8, 10.3). Anti-Ro52 antibodies were equally frequent in patients with mild to moderate (eight of 17; 44%) and severe fibrosis (11 of 21; 52%). Anti-Ro52 was not associated with any of the other clinical parameters assessed, nor was anti-Ro60 or anti-SSB.

CONCLUSION:

Our cross-sectional data suggest that anti-Ro52 antibodies may serve as a potential marker for lung fibrosis in MCTD.

• Authors: Ragnar Gunnarsson, Fadi El-Hage, Trond Mogens Aaløkken, Silje Reiseter, May Brit Lund, Torhild Garen, Norwegian MCTD study group, Øyvind Molberg
• Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) (Rheumatology (Oxford)) Vol. 55 Issue 1 Pg. 103-8 (Jan 2016) ISSN: 1462-0332 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26320136 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Antinuclear
• Ribonucleoproteins
• SS-A antigen

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Antinuclear (blood, immunology)
• Chronic Disease
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (blood, complications, immunology)
• Pulmonary Fibrosis (blood, etiology, immunology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Ribonucleoproteins (immunology)