RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnostic and prognostic significance of measuring antibodies to alpha-fodrin compared to anti-Ro-52, anti-Ro-60, and anti-La in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 845
OP 849
VO 35
IS 5
A1 Henning Locht
A1 Randi Pelck
A1 Rolf Manthorpe
YR 2008
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/5/845.abstract
AB 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.