Abstract |
Twenty-nine anti-RNP positive patients were followed prospectively with a mean observation time of 65 months (29-120 months). The clinical course was correlated to the presence of IgM and IgG anti-(U1)snRNP antibodies as revealed by immunoblotting from sequentially obtained sera. There was a striking dissociation between the fluctuating course, with the appearance of new manifestations followed by remissions, and the stability of the anti- snRNP antibody specificities where an appearance or a disappearance of anti- snRNP specificities was a rare phenomenon. The main epitope recognized by the IgG antibodies was the 70 kDa protein and of the IgM antibodies the B/B' proteins. No shift from the IgM to the IgG isotype was observed. The presence of IgG anti-70 kDa and IgM anti-B/B' antibodies was highly associated with presence of arthralgias, Raynaud's phenomenon and arthritis. Further, an association was noted between the combined presence of IgG anti-70 kDa, anti-A and anti-C antibodies and IgM anti-B/B' and puffy hands, myositis, pulmonary fibrosis and sclerodactyly, i.e. all manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease ( MCTD). On the contrary, serositis as often seen in SLE was correlated to the presence of IgG anti-B/B' antibodies. Thus the longitudinal analysis of the correlation between anti- snRNP antibody specificities and clinical manifestations support the concept of MCTD as a distinct entity.
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Authors | I Lundberg, U Nyman, I Pettersson, E Hedfors |
Journal | British journal of rheumatology
(Br J Rheumatol)
Vol. 31
Issue 12
Pg. 811-7
(Dec 1992)
ISSN: 0263-7103 [Print] England |
PMID | 1458287
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
- Autoantibodies
- Autoantigens
- Immunoglobulin G
- Immunoglobulin M
- Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear
- snRNP Core Proteins
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
(blood, immunology)
- Antibody Specificity
- Arthritis
(diagnosis, epidemiology, immunology)
- Autoantibodies
(blood)
- Autoantigens
(immunology)
- Child
- Counterimmunoelectrophoresis
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Immunoglobulin G
(blood, immunology)
- Immunoglobulin M
(blood, immunology)
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
(diagnosis, epidemiology, immunology)
- Prospective Studies
- Raynaud Disease
(diagnosis, epidemiology, immunology)
- Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear
(immunology)
- snRNP Core Proteins
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