Ethnic Differences in Autoantibody Diversity and Hierarchy: More Clues from a US Cohort of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

SSc-specific antibodies may predict disease subset; however, the hierarchy of their prevalence differs across ethnic groups. This study provides the most extensive analysis to date on the relevance of autoantibodies in the diagnosis and clinical manifestations of SSc in Hispanic American patients.

Multiparametric autoantibody profiling of patients with systemic sclerosis in Greece

“…[26][27][28] Whether such a lack of reactivity is due to the decreased sensitivity of the assay (cut-off used for positivity) or is influenced by geographic/ethnic factors remains to be seen. [18][19][20][21][22][23]29,30 The fact that the PDGFR used in the current assay is eukaryotically expressed in mammalian cells argues against the possibility that the lack of reactivity is due to the low antigenicity of the antigen source. Of diagnostic relevance, and in agreement with our previous reported findings, more than 20% of the SSc patients had positive autoAb tests other than Topo I, anti-CEN, or anti-RNA pol III, clearly demonstrating the need to incorporate such profile testing in those patients found negative for the conventional SSc autoAbs.…”

“…6 Our cohort included homogeneous Caucasian patients 6 without racial, ethnic or geographical differences, which appear to influence autoAb variation around the globe. [18][19][20][21][22][23] Our Department oversees patients not only from the region of Thessaly but also from the surrounding area (Central Greece). We decided to undertake a larger study: we increased the number of SSc patients tested and importantly we included a distinct cohort of patients with morphea, a localized form of scleroderma without involvement of internal organs, a cohort not previously assessed.…”

The incidence of immunofluorescence patterns and specific autoantibodies observed in autoimmune patients in a tertiary care centre

“…The immunofluorescence staining patterns and specific autoantibodies are clinically relevant as they are associated with particular ADs (16). Due to the ethnic variations, genetic and environmental factors, there is a significant variation in incidence and disease-specific autoantibodies (17,18). Nonetheless, ANA is frequently found in a considerable proportion of healthy subjects although studies are generally performed in selected populations, such as blood donors or employees, while data on ANA prevalence (19-21) and clinical significance over time (22) in an unselected general population, are limited.…”

Presence of Antitopoisomerase I Antibody Alone May Not Be Sufficient for the Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis

“…All 3 classical autoantibodies remain stable throughout the course of disease and tend to have a mutually exclusive association. While the presence of anti-topo I antibodies is thought to be highly specific and diagnostic for SSc, the significance of certain positive results remains unclear 6,7 .…”