Rheumatoid Arthritis: Matthias T

Witte T, Matthias T, Bierwirth J, Schmidt RE. · Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany. · Ann N Y Acad Sci. · Pubmed #17894005 No free full text.

Abstract: The significance of antibodies against alpha-fodrin compared to antibodies against Ro (SSA) as markers of Sjögren's syndrome has been controversially discussed. We therefore compared the association of alpha-fodrin and Ro antibodies with dry eyes and dry mouth in the general population. In 168 "normal" participants, the prevalence of IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin was 5% and of IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin was 3%. IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin were present in 3 of 4 and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in 2 of 4 participants with the combination of dry eyes and dry mouth (P = 0.0002 and 0.005). Only one participant had antibodies against Ro and had dry eyes but normal saliva production. Antibodies against alpha-fodrin are associated with sicca syndrome and may be valuable diagnostic markers in patients with Sjögren's syndrome lacking Ro antibodies.

de Seze J, Dubucquoi S, Fauchais AL, Hachulla E, Matthias T, Lefranc D, Hatron PY, Vermersch P, Witte T. · Department of Neurology, University of Lille, Lille, France. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #14994394 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) with neurological manifestations compared to SS patients without neurological manifestations, a control group, and patients with other neurological autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with neurological manifestations and multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We evaluated alpha-fodrin autoantibodies in 31 patients with SS with neurological manifestations, 53 SS patients without neurological symptoms, 38 patients with SLE, 60 with MS, and 160 controls. RESULTS: Twenty of the 31 SS patients with neurological manifestations (64.5%) had an increased concentration of IgA and/or IgG anti-alpha-fodrin. This was not statistically different from that of SS patients without neurological symptoms (73.6%), but was higher than the number with SSA/SSB antibodies, which were found in 15 (48%) of our SS patients without neurological manifestations. When the results of the 2 tests were combined, 28 of the 31 (90.3%) patients had positive autoantibodies (alpha-fodrin and/or SSA/SSB). Alpha-fodrin antibodies were increased in 8 (13.3%) of the 60 patients with MS, in 6 (15.7%) of 38 patients with SLE, and in 10 (6.3%) of 160 controls. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that alpha-fodrin antibodies are an additional diagnostic tool for SS. This test is of particular interest for patients with SS with neurological manifestations, in whom anti SSA/SSB antibodies are less frequently found.

Witte T, Matthias T, Oppermann M, Helmke K, Peter HH, Schmidt RE, Tishler M. · Abteilung Klinische Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #14528510 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of antibodies against alpha-fodrin in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) classified according to San Diego and European Community Study Group (ESG) criteria. METHODS: The prevalence and mean concentrations of IgA and IgG autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin were determined and compared in patients with SS classified either according to San Diego criteria or to criteria of the ESG by ELISA. RESULTS: IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin were detected in 88% and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in 64% and either of these antibodies in 93% of 85 patients classified according to San Diego criteria. Antibodies against Ro were present in 38% of these sera. IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin were detected in 61%, IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in 51%, and any of these antibodies in 73% of 51 patients classified according to the ESG criteria. The mean concentrations of both IgA and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin that seem to correlate with disease activity were higher in patients classified according to the San Diego criteria. CONCLUSION: Antibodies against alpha-fodrin are detectable in almost all sera obtained from patients with SS classified according to the San Diego criteria and are significantly more prevalent than antibodies against Ro. The lower prevalence of the autoantibodies in patients classified according to the ESG criteria reflects the lower specificity of these criteria for SS.

de Seze J, Dubucquoi S, Fauchais AL, Matthias T, Devos D, Castelnovo G, Stojkovic T, Ferriby D, Hachulla E, Labauge P, Lefranc D, Hatron PY, Vermersch P, Witte T. · Department of Neurology, University of Lille, France. · Neurology. · Pubmed #12874419 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Witte T, Matthias T, Arnett FC, Peter HH, Hartung K, Sachse C, Wigand R, Braner A, Kalden JR, Lakomek HJ, Schmidt RE. · Abteilung Klinische Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #11093442 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of IgA and IgG autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and controls. METHODS: An ELISA detecting IgA and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin was developed. We examined the prevalence of IgA and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in patients with primary and secondary SS, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and blood donors. RESULTS: IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin were detected in 64% of patients with primary SS (n = 85), 47% of patients with secondary SS and SLE (n = 15), and 86% of patients with secondary SS and RA (n = 7). IgA autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin were detected in only one of 160 sera obtained from blood donors and in one of 50 and 2 of 12 sera obtained from SLE and RA patients without sicca syndrome, respectively. The prevalence of IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in SS was lower: they were detected in 55% of sera obtained from patients with primary SS, 40% of patients with secondary SS and SLE, and in 43% of patients with secondary SS and RA. Three of 160 sera from blood donors and one of 50 and 5 of 12 sera from SLE and RA patients without sicca syndrome, respectively, contained IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin. CONCLUSION: IgA rather than IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin are specific for and frequently observed in primary and secondary SS and are useful markers for this autoimmune disorder.

Witte T, Hartung K, Sachse C, Matthias T, Fricke M, Kalden JR, Lakomek HJ, Peter HH, Schmidt RE. · Abteilung Klinische Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany. · Rheumatol Int. · Pubmed #10776689 No free full text.

Abstract: The prevalence and clinical and laboratory associations of IgM, IgG and IgA rheumatoid factors (RF) were determined in 352 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). IgM, IgG, and IgA class RF were detected in 17.9%, 20.5%, and 20.5% of the sera, respectively. RF were associated with sicca syndrome, hypergammaglobulinemia, high titer of antinuclear antibodies, anemia, SSA- and SSB-antibodies, and with the presence of HLA-DR3. RF correlated negatively with nephritis and livedo racemosa. Moreover, we observed an association of RF and parameters of inflammatory activity such as elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and leukopenia. Analysis of immunoglobulin classes revealed that laboratory parameters of inflammatory activity, SSA- and SSB-antibodies and HLA-DR3 correlated with IgA RF only. IgA RF define a subgroup of SLE patients characterized by distinct autoimmune phenomena and high disease activity in the absence of nephritis.

Witte T, Bierwirth J, Schmidt RE, Matthias T. · No affiliation provided · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #16881136 links to  free full text

This publication has no abstract.