Rheumatoid Arthritis: Tombini V

Brucato A, Tombini V, Guffanti C. · Ospedale Niguarda, Milan, Italy. · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #16385524 links to  free full text

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Brucato A, Shinar Y, Brambilla G, Robbiolo L, Ferrioli G, Patrosso MC, Zanni D, Penco S, Boiani E, Ghirardello A, Caforio AL, Bergantin A, Tombini V, Moreo A, Ashtamkar L, Doria A, Shoenfeld Y, Livneh A. · Department of Medicine, Niguarda Hospital Milano, Italy. · Lupus. · Pubmed #16218464 No free full text.

Abstract: Idiopathic recurrent acute pericarditis (IRAP) is suspected to be an autoimmune phenomenon. We studied 46 consecutive patients. We looked for: 1) the occurrence of new diagnoses of autoimmune diseases during our follow up; 2) HLA typing; and 3) the presence of the most frequent mutations linked to familial Mediterranean fever (FMF gene or MEFV). HLA typing was done in 21 patients at loci B, DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1. MEFV gene was looked in 23 patients using specific primers. During the follow-up we made a new diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome in four patients (8.7%) and of rheumatoid arthritis in one patient (2.2%). HLA B14, DRB1*01 and DQB1*0202 were significantly more prevalent, but we did not find a typical HLA typing. MEFV gene was searched: exon 10 was checked by sequence and the E148Q mutation by restriction site analysis. No mutations were found. In conclusion, the prevalence of definite immunorheumatological diseases and the absence of the mutations linked to FMF reinforce the notion that idiopathic acute recurrent pericarditis is an autoimmune condition.

Brucato A, Doria A, Frassi M, Castellino G, Franceschini F, Faden D, Pisoni MP, Solerte L, Muscarà M, Lojacono A, Motta M, Cavazzana I, Ghirardello A, Vescovi F, Tombini V, Cimaz R, Gambari PF, Meroni PL, Canesi B, Tincani A. · · Lupus. · Pubmed #12475001 No free full text.

Abstract: Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are associated with neonatal lupus but are also considered a possible cause for unexplained pregnancy loss and adverse pregnancy outcome. In a large multicentres cohort study we have prospectively followed 100 anti-Ro/SSA positive women (53 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)) during their 122 pregnancies and 107 anti-Ro/SSA negative women (58 SLE) (140 pregnancies). Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies were tested by immunoblot and counterimunoelectrophoresis. Mean gestational age at delivery (38 vs 37.9 weeks), prevalence of pregnancy loss (9.9 vs 18.6%), preterm birth (21.3 vs 13.9%), cesarean sections (49.2 vs 53.4%), premature rupture of membranes (4.9 vs 8.1%), preeclampsia (6.6 vs 8%), intrauterine growth retardation (0 vs 2.3%)and newborns small for gestational age (11.5 vs 5.8%) were similar in anti-Ro/SSA positive and negative SLE mothers; findings were similar in non-SLE women. Two cases of congenital heart block were observed out of 100 anti-Ro/SSA positive women. In conclusion, anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are responsible for congenital heart block but do not affect other pregnancy outcomes, both in SLE and in non-SLE women. The general outcome of these pregnancies is now very good, ifprospectively followed by multidisciplinary teams with ample experience in this field.