One hundred and three patients suffering from systemic sclerosis (SSc), with different extent of skin involvement, were retrospectively examined to investigate the correlations between clinical manifestations and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). aCL of IgG, IgA, and IgM classes were measured in the patients' sera by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. aCL were found in 26 patients (25.2%). A significant association was found between aCL and myocardial ischaemia or necrosis (p = 0.011). No patient showed the clinical picture of the antiphospholipid syndrome. On the basis of clinical manifestations, a protocol for disease score was drawn. Patients with IgG-aCL and with IgA-aCL showed a disease score higher than aCL negative patients (p = 0.008 and p = 0.022 respectively). Thus, the finding of aCL can be considered a useful serological index for the most severe forms of SSc.

A bilateral knee septic arthritis due to Salmonella enteritidis developed in a female patient affected by long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with cardiac and renal involvement treated with immunosuppressants and corticosteroids. Because avascular necrosis and multiple osteomyelitic areas were detected at the same time in both right and left femoral condyles, an early localisation of Salmonella into the bone was assumed. Involvement of the joints was regarded as consequence of local dissemination of infection. Ampicilline (0.2 g/kg body weight daily for 2 months) plus ciprofloxacin (1.5 g daily for 12 months) and withdrawal of immunosuppressants appeared to be effective in preventing complications of infection.

Associations of antinuclear (ANA) and anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies with clinical manifestations were analyzed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We studied 105 SSc patients: 28 had limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) involving fingers; 36 had intermediate cutaneous SSc involving limbs and face; 33 had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) involving the trunk; 8 had a sclerosis sine scleroderma. Clinical manifestations and instrumental and laboratory findings were considered to calculate a disease score. Serum anticentromere (ACA), anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I) antibodies, and aCL (of IgG/IgA/IgM classes) were investigated by conventional methods. ACA positive patients (n=18), compared to ACA negative, showed higher prevalence of IcSSc (p < 0.001), lower prevalence of restrictive ventilatory defect (p=0.006), and lower disease score (p=0.008). Anti-topo I positive patients (n= 70) showed lower prevalence of lcSSc (p =0.001) compared to anti-topo I negative. In aCL positive patients (n=27) widespread skin and visceral involvement occurred more frequently than in aCL negative. The association with myocardial ischemia or necrosis (p=0.010) was significant. Occurrence of ACA excluded the coexistence of anti-topo I (p < 0.001), and aCL (p=0.037). aCL positive patients showed higher disease score in comparison with ACA positive patients (p=0.003). In conclusion ACA recognize patients with a mild disease. aCL in contrast to ACA are better than anti-topo I in recognizing the most severe pictures of SSc.

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