| 1. |
- Abelson, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
-
STAT4 Associates with SLE through two independent effects that correlate with gene expression and act additively with IRF5 to increase risk
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 68:11, s. 1746-1753
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To confirm and define the genetic association of STAT4 and systemic lupus erythematosus, investigate the possibility of correlations with differential splicing and/or expression levels, and genetic interaction with IRF5. METHODS: 30 tag SNPs were genotyped in an independent set of Spanish cases and controls. SNPs surviving correction for multiple tests were genotyped in 5 new sets of cases and controls for replication. STAT4 cDNA was analyzed by 5'-RACE PCR and sequencing. Expression levels were measured by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: In the fine-mapping, four SNPs were significant after correction for multiple testing, with rs3821236 and rs3024866 as the strongest signals, followed by the previously associated rs7574865, and by rs1467199. Association was replicated in all cohorts. After conditional regression analyses, two major independent signals represented by SNPs rs3821236 and rs7574865, remained significant across the sets. These SNPs belong to separate haplotype blocks. High levels of STAT4 expression correlated with SNPs rs3821236, rs3024866 (both in the same haplotype block) and rs7574865 but not with other SNPs. We also detected transcription of alternative tissue-specific exons 1, indicating presence of tissue-specific promoters of potential importance in the expression of STAT4. No interaction with associated SNPs of IRF5 was observed using regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm STAT4 as a susceptibility gene for SLE and suggest the presence of at least two functional variants affecting levels of STAT4. Our results also indicate that both genes STAT4 and IRF5 act additively to increase risk for SLE.
|
|
| 2. |
- Agmon-Levin, Nancy, et al.
(författare)
-
International recommendations for the assessment of autoantibodies to cellular antigens referred to as anti-nuclear antibodies
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 73:1, s. 17-23
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are fundamental for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, and have been determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) for decades. As the demand for ANA testing increased, alternative techniques were developed challenging the classic IIFA. These alternative platforms differ in their antigen profiles, sensitivity and specificity, raising uncertainties regarding standardisation and interpretation of incongruent results. Therefore, an international group of experts has created recommendations for ANA testing by different methods. Two groups of experts participated in this initiative. The European autoimmunity standardization initiative representing 15 European countries and the International Union of Immunologic Societies/World Health Organization/Arthritis Foundation/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention autoantibody standardising committee. A three-step process followed by a Delphi exercise with closed voting was applied. Twenty-five recommendations for determining ANA (1-13), anti-double stranded DNA antibodies (14-18), specific antibodies (19-23) and validation of methods (24-25) were created. Significant differences between experts were observed regarding recommendations 24-25 (p<0.03). Here, we formulated recommendations for the assessment and interpretation of ANA and associated antibodies. Notably, the roles of IIFA as a reference method, and the importance of defining nuclear and cytoplasmic staining, were emphasised, while the need to incorporate alternative automated methods was acknowledged. Various approaches to overcome discrepancies between methods were suggested of which an improved bench-to-bedside communication is of the utmost importance. These recommendations are based on current knowledge and can enable harmonisation of local algorithms for testing and evaluation of ANA and related autoantibodies. Last but not least, new more appropriate terminologies have been suggested.
|
|
| 3. |
- Ambrosi, Aurelie, et al.
(författare)
-
Development of heart block in children of SSA/SSB-autoantibody-positive women is associated with maternal age and displays a season-of-birth pattern
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - London : BMJ Publishing Group. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 71:3, s. 334-340
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Congenital heart block may develop in the fetuses of Ro/SSA-positive and La/SSB-positive mothers. Recurrence rates of only 10-20% despite persisting maternal antibodies indicate that additional factors are critical for the establishment of heart block. The authors investigated the influence of other maternal and fetal factors on heart block development in a Swedish population-based cohort. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods The influence of fetal gender, maternal age, parity and time of birth on heart block development was analysed in 145 families, including Ro/La-positive (n=190) and Ro/La-negative (n=165) pregnancies. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults There was a recurrence rate of 12.1% in Ro/La-positive women, and no recurrence in Ro/La-negative women. Fetal gender and parity did not influence the development of heart block in either group. Maternal age in Ro/La-positive pregnancies with a child affected by heart block was, however, significantly higher than in pregnancies resulting in babies without heart block (pandlt;0.05). Seasonal timing of pregnancy influenced the outcome. Gestational susceptibility weeks 18-24 occurring during January-March correlated with a higher proportion of children with heart block and lower vitamin D levels during the same period in a representative sample of Swedish women and a corresponding higher proportion of children with heart block born in the summer (pandlt;0.02). Maternal age or seasonal timing of pregnancy did not affect the outcome in Ro/La-negative pregnancies. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion This study identifies maternal age and seasonal timing of pregnancy as novel risk factors for heart block development in children of Ro/La-positive women. These observations may be useful for counselling when pregnancy is considered.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Andersson, M. L. E., et al.
(författare)
-
Diurnal variation in serum levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in patients with knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 65:11, s. 1490-1494
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To monitor changes in serum concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) during a 24-h period to determine any diurnal variation, and to estimate the half life of COMP in the circulation in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and in those with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Serum samples were drawn every 4 h (7 samples/patient over 24 h) in 10 patients with knee osteoarthritis and 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis was defined radiographically and clinically (American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria) and rheumatoid arthritis according to the 1987 ACR criteria. Serum COMP was measured by sandwich ELISA. A statistical model for the diurnal variation in the COMP levels was developed using the computer program NONMEM. Results: No considerable changes in COMP levels were observed during the day between 08:00 and 21:00 in either group. A significant decrease in serum COMP was apparent during bed rest at night, reaching the lowest levels between 04:00 and 05:00 (p < 0.03 or better v all other time points) in patients with osteoarthritis and in those with rheumatoid arthritis. From the rate of decreasing serum COMP levels, a putative half life of COMP in the circulation was estimated to be 7.4 h. Conclusion: During normal daytime activities, serum COMP levels are constant. The decrease during the night indicates a rapid elimination of COMP once it has reached the circulation. The stable COMP levels during the day suggest that it is not necessary to further standardise the time of serum sampling in clinical practice.
|
|
| 7. |
- Appel, Silke, et al.
(författare)
-
Potential association of muscarinic receptor 3 gene variants with primary Sjogren's syndrome
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 70:7, s. 1327-1329
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is characterised by a chronic inflammation of exocrine glands. Salivary gland infiltrates, however, do not correlate well with disease symptoms, and a primary role for the salivary gland parenchyma in disease development has been suggested. Specifically, dysfunction of exocrine pathways involving the muscarinic receptor 3 (CHRM3) has been indicated. Objective: To investigate possible genetic divergence in the CHRM3 gene in patients with pSS. Methods: 530 patients with pSS and 532 controls from a combined Swedish and Norwegian cohort were genotyped for 84 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed throughout CHRM3. Results: Genetic association was observed with five SNPs localised in intron 3 and 4 of CHRM3, the strongest being rs7548522 (minor allele frequency = 0.06, OR=1.93, 95% CI (1.24 to 3.01); p=0.0033). In addition, clinical parameters, including focus score, abnormal Schirmer's test and presence of autoantibodies, were associated with different SNPs in CHRM3. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a novel association of CHRM3 polymorphisms with pSS, suggesting a functional role for CHRM3 and the salivary gland parenchyma in the pathogenesis of pSS.
|
|
| 8. |
- Arkema, EV, et al.
(författare)
-
Are patients with rheumatoid arthritis still at an increased risk of tuberculosis and what is the role of biological treatments?
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 74:6, s. 1212-1217
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To estimate the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) both with and without exposure to biological therapy and to directly compare the risks between therapies.MethodsData from the Swedish National Population Registers, Tuberculosis Register and the Swedish Biologics Register were used to conduct a prospective population-based national cohort study (2002–2011). We estimated the rate of incident TB in the general population and in a cohort of biological-naïve and biological-exposed patients diagnosed with RA. Cox models were used to estimate HRs with particular attention to risks by calendar and follow-up time and individual biologics.ResultsCompared to the general population, RA patients not exposed to biologicals had a fourfold increased risk of TB (HR 4.2; 95% CI 2.7 to 6.7), which did not decline over calendar time. In contrast, the risk of TB in the biological-exposed RA population decreased since 2002 compared with biological-naïve; from HR=7.9 (95% CI 3.3 to 18.9) in 2002–2006 to HR=2.4 (95% CI 0.9 to 6.1) in 2007–2011. The HRs for most recent exposure to adalimumab and infliximab compared with etanercept were 3.1 (95% CI 0.8 to 12.5) and 2.7 (95% CI 0.7 to 10.9), respectively, and the HR for etanercept compared with biological-naïve RA was 1.7 (95% CI 0.6 to 4.6).ConclusionsIn the past decade, the risk of TB has decreased among biological-exposed RA patients but remains higher than in biological-naïve RA patients. Most cases of TB in RA occur in biological-naïve RA patients, underscoring the elevated risk also in these patients.
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Arkema, Elizabeth V, et al.
(författare)
-
Incidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis : a national population-based study
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 71:11, s. 1865-1867
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but serious disease, have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in association with biological therapy, but little is known about the incidence of PML in patients with RA in the absence of treatment exposure.OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rate of PML in patients with RA compared with the general population, with and without exposure to biological agents.METHODS: Patients with adult onset RA, exposure to biological agents and a diagnosis of PML from 1999 through 2009 were identified from national registries and linked using each Swedish resident's unique personal identification number. General population comparators matched on age, sex and county were also identified. Crude and age- and sex-standardised incidence rates (cases per 100 000 person-years) were calculated with 95% CI.RESULTS: 66 278 patients with RA and 286 949 general population comparators were included in the study. The incidence rate of PML in the overall RA population was 1.0 (95% CI 0.3 to 2.5) compared with 0.3 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.6) in the general population. The difference in incidence rate was 0.7 (95% CI -0.3 to 17). Among all patients exposed to biological agents, only one patient was diagnosed with PML.CONCLUSION: Data from this national population-based cohort study suggest that patients with RA may have an increased rate of PML compared with the general population.
|
|
