The authors review the role, clinico-serological correlations and the putative pathogenetic relevance of a number of immunological parameters in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia. On the whole, in spite of the fact that levels of... more
The authors review the role, clinico-serological correlations and the putative pathogenetic relevance of a number of immunological parameters in essential mixed cryoglobulinemia. On the whole, in spite of the fact that levels of cryoglobulins, immune complexes, complement as well as reticuloendothelial splenic function are frequently abnormal in this condition, they are generally poorly correlated with clinical features. Therefore, it is postulated that this apparent discrepancy may either be due to the contemporary presence in the same serum of many types of immune complexes with different toxicity, or to the influence of rheumatoid factor on the nature of circulating immune complexes.
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In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a key event is infiltration of inflammatory immune cells into the synovial lining, possibly aggravated by dysregulation of cellular adhesion molecules. Therefore, single nucleotide polymorphisms of 14 genes... more
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a key event is infiltration of inflammatory immune cells into the synovial lining, possibly aggravated by dysregulation of cellular adhesion molecules. Therefore, single nucleotide polymorphisms of 14 genes involved in cellular adhesion processes (CAST, ITGA4, ITGB1, ITGB2, PECAM1, PTEN, PTPN11, PTPRC, PXN, SELE, SELP, SRC, TYK2, and VCAM1) were analyzed for association with RA. Association analysis was performed consecutively in three European RA family sample groups (Nfamilies = 407). Additionally, we investigated differential allelic expression, a possible functional consequence of genetic variants. SELP (selectin P, CD62P) SNP-allele rs6136-T was associated with risk for RA in two RA family sample groups as well as in global analysis of all three groups (ptotal = 0.003). This allele was also expressed preferentially (p<10-6) with a two- fold average increase in regulated samples. Differential expression is supported by data from Genevar MuTHER (p...
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This pilot study evaluated the predictive value of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for damage accrual in a cohort of SLE patients. Thirty-eight female SLE patients without cardiovascular involvement were enrolled. Clinical history,... more
This pilot study evaluated the predictive value of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for damage accrual in a cohort of SLE patients. Thirty-eight female SLE patients without cardiovascular involvement were enrolled. Clinical history, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, laboratory parameters, disease activity and damage and brachial artery FMD were collected at study entry and after a mean follow-up of 4.5 years. At enrollment, 18 patients (47%) presented active disease; mean FMD was 7.9 ± 3.1%, with no statistically significant differences between women with active and inactive disease. During the follow-up, 3 patients died and 14 accrued organ damage. Baseline FMD did not predict death and damage accrual. FMD showed significant decline over time, which was greater in patients with poor outcome (-3.9% vs -1.9%, p = 0.03). In conclusion, in a cohort of SLE patients, baseline FMD was not predictive of damage accrual. However, the latter was associated with progressive loss of FMD.
Research Interests: Atherosclerosis, Kidney diseases, Inflammation, Treatment Outcome, Hemorheology, and 17 moreProspective studies, Humans, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Female, Follow-up studies, Vascular endothelium, Risk factors, Sample Size, Clinical Sciences, Adult, Prognosis, Cardiovascular Diseases, Disease Progression, Risk Factors, Pilot Projects, Vasodilation, and Brachial artery
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The term undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) refers to unclassifiable systemic autoimmune diseases which share clinical and serological manifestations with definite connective tissue diseases (CTDs) but not fulfilling any of... more
The term undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) refers to unclassifiable systemic autoimmune diseases which share clinical and serological manifestations with definite connective tissue diseases (CTDs) but not fulfilling any of the existing classification criteria. In this review we will go through the more recent evidence on UCTD and we will discuss in what extent the availability of new criteria for the CTDs could interfere with the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;UCTD concept&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;. The development of criteria able to identify early phases of defined CTD, may help in the differentiation of stable UCTD form their early stages and may offer a valuable guide to the treating physician to set up appropriate follow up schedules as well as therapeutic protocols. This simplified subset of CTD could offer a model to study clinic pathological correlations as well as the role of possible environmental factors in the development of autoimmunity.
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ABSTRACT