| 1. |
- Brodszki, Nicholas, et al.
(författare)
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Primary immunodeficiency in infection-prone children in southern Sweden: occurrence, clinical characteristics and immunological findings.
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Immunology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2172. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders mainly characterized by increased susceptibility to infections. The aims of this study were to estimate the occurrence rate of PID in the paediatric (age ≤ 18 years) population of southern Sweden (approx. 265,000 children) and to describe their demographic, clinical and immunological characteristics. During a period of 4 years, in four paediatric speciality clinics in Skåne County in southern Sweden, children being seen for infections and fulfilling specific criteria were evaluated according to a predefined examination schedule. The initial analysis consisted of complete blood counts with analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations (T, B, NK cells), measurement of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE and IgG subclasses), and assessment of the complement system (classical, alternative and lectin pathways). In addition, results of these immunological analyses in other children from the same area and time period were evaluated.
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| 2. |
- C Kapetanovic, Meliha, et al.
(författare)
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Antibody response is reduced following vaccination with 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in adult methotrexate-treated patients with established arthritis, but not those treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
- 2011
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 1529-0131 .- 0004-3591. ; 63:12, s. 3723-3732
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To study the influence of antiinflammatory treatments, including methotrexate (MTX) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, on antibody response following vaccination using a 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in adult patients with established arthritis. Methods. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondylarthropathy (SpA) (including psoriatic arthritis) were vaccinated (n = 505). All patients were stratified into 6 prespecified groups based on diagnosis and treatment (RA patients receiving MTX, RA patients receiving anti-TNF agents and MTX, RA patients receiving TNF inhibitors as monotherapy, SpA patients receiving anti-TNF agents and MTX, SpA patients receiving TNF inhibitors as monotherapy, and SpA patients receiving nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] and/or analgesics). SpA patients receiving only NSAIDs/analgesics served as a control group. All patients received 1 dose (0.5 ml) of vaccine intramuscu-larly. Levels of IgG antibodies against 23F and 6B serotypes were measured at vaccination and at 4-6 weeks following vaccination, using standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results. Positive antibody response was defined as an antibody response ratio (ARR) (i. e., ratio of post-to prevaccination antibody levels) of > 2. The ARR differed significantly between the groups. A better ARR was seen among patients in the control group compared to those in groups treated with MTX or MTX in combination with TNF inhibitors. Among patients treated with TNF inhibitors as monotherapy, ARRs for both serotypes were lower numerically, but were not significantly different, compared to those in controls. Ongoing MTX treatment was predictive of reduced response (odds ratio 0.41 [95% confidence interval 0.24-0.68], P = 0.001). Higher age was associated with impaired positive antibody response. Concomitant prednisolone treatment elicited better positive antibody response in patients with RA. Conclusion. Treatment with MTX and higher age were predictive of an impaired antibody response to the 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in this cohort of patients with chronic arthritis. TNF inhibitors did not significantly affect antibody responses.
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| 3. |
- C Kapetanovic, Meliha, et al.
(författare)
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Heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine elicits similar antibody response as standard 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine in adult patients with RA treated with immunomodulating drugs.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Clinical Rheumatology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-9949 .- 0770-3198. ; 30:12, s. 1555-1561
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objectives of the study were to compare antibody response in immunosuppressed patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after vaccination with heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) to that of RA patients and healthy controls vaccinated with 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) and to study the impact of disease and/or treatment characteristics and type of vaccine on antibody response following pneumococcal vaccination in patients with RA. In total, 253 RA patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), anti-TNF blockers as monotherapy or anti-TNF + MTX were vaccinated with a single dose (0.5 ml) of PCV7. In addition, 149 RA patients receiving corresponding treatments and 47 healthy controls were vaccinated with a single dose (0.5 ml) of PPV23. Serotype-specific IgG to 23F and 6B were measured at vaccination and 4-6 weeks after vaccination using ELISA. Antibody response ratio (ARR), i.e. ratio between post-/prevaccination antibody levels, was compared between corresponding treatment groups. Differences in ARR were analysed using analysis of variance. Positive antibody response (posAR) was defined as equal to or greater than twofold increase in prevaccination antibody levels. Possible predictors of posAR were analysed using logistic regression model. Corresponding RA treatment groups showed similar ARR and posAR for both serotypes regardless of vaccine type. Higher age at vaccination and concomitant MTX were identified as predictors of impaired posAR for both serotypes tested, whereas type of vaccine did not influence posAR significantly. PCV7 elicits similar antibody response as PPV23 in patients with RA receiving immunosuppressive treatment. In RA patients, higher age and MTX treatment but not type of vaccine predicted impaired posAR.
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| 4. |
- C Kapetanovic, Meliha, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of methotrexate, TNF blockers and prednisolone on antibody responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0332 .- 1462-0324. ; 45:1, s. 106-111
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To compare antibody responses to 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax (R)) in controls and patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with TNF blockers, methotrexate (MTX) or a combination of both. Methods. Patients with RA (n = 149) and healthy controls (n = 47) were vaccinated. Treatment with TNF blockers (etanercept or infliximab) and MTX was given to 50 patients, and 62 patients were treated with TNF blockers alone or with other DMARDs. MTX alone was given to 37 patients. Concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides 23F and 6B were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay before and 4-6 weeks after vaccination. An immune response was defined as a twofold or higher increase in antibody concentration following vaccination. Results. Prevaccination antibody levels for both 23F and 6B were similar in the patient groups. Antibody concentrations after vaccination increased significantly in all groups. Patients treated with TNF blockers without MTX showed better immune responses than those treated with TNF blockers in combination with MTX (P = 0.037 for 23F and P = 0.004 for 6B) or MTX alone (P < 0.001 for both 23F and 6B). RA patients given MTX alone had the lowest immune responses. Prednisolone treatment did not influence the responses. Conclusions. Patients treated with TNF blockers and controls showed similar responses to vaccination. In contrast, patients treated with MTX had reduced responses regardless of anti-TNF treatment. The findings do not argue against the use of pneumococcal vaccination in RA patients undergoing treatment with TNF blockers.
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| 5. |
- C Kapetanovic, Meliha, et al.
(författare)
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Rituximab and abatacept but not tocilizumab impair antibody response to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research and Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 15:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of newer biologic treatments including rituximab, abatacept and tocilizumab on antibody response following pneumococcal vaccination using a 7-valent conjugate vaccine in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Patients with RA receiving rituximab, abatacept or tocilizumab as monotherapy or combined with methotrexate (MTX) participated in the study. Specific IgG antibodies against 23F and 6B serotypes were measured at vaccination and 4 to 6 weeks after vaccination using standardised ELISA. Geometric mean antibody levels (GML) were calculated. Antibody response (AR) was defined as the ratio between post-and pre-vaccination antibody levels and a positive antibody response (posAR) was AR >= 2. Results: In total, 88 patients were enrolled in the study. Of 55 patients treated with rituximab, 26 (46%) were on concomitant MTX. Of patients receiving abatacept (n = 17) and tocilizumab (n = 16) biologic treatment was given in combination with MTX in 13 (76%) and 9 (56%) patients, respectively. Patients treated with rituximab had significantly lower AR compared to those on tocilizumab, as well as compared to previously reported RA patients on MTX and controls (spondylarthropathy patients treated with NSAIDs and/or analgesics). In total, 10.3% of patients on rituximab monotherapy and no patient on rituximab + MTX had posAR for both serotypes. For abatacept and tocilizumab the corresponding figures were 17.6% and 50%. Conclusion: In this cohort of patients with established RA, treatment with rituximab and abatacept was associated with diminished antibody response but this was most pronounced for rituximab. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine administrated during ongoing tocilizumab treatment seems to be associated with sufficient antibody response. Pneumococcal vaccination should preferably be encouraged before initiation of rituximab or abatacept treatment.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Jönsson, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Homozygosity for the IgG2 subclass allotype G2M(n) protects against severe infection in hereditary C2 deficiency
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Immunology. - 1550-6606. ; 177:1, s. 722-728
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Homozygous C2 deficiency (C2D) is the most common deficiency of the classical complement pathway in Western countries. It is mostly found in patients with autoimmune disease or susceptibility to bacterial infections and in healthy persons. We wished to assess to what extent other immunological factors might explain differences of susceptibility to infections in C2D. For this reason, 44 Swedish patients with C2D were stratified with regard to the severity of documented infections. Investigations of IgG subclass levels, IgG subclass-specific GM allotypes, concentrations of factor B, properdin, and factor H, and polymorphisms of mannan-binding lectin and the Fe receptors Fc gamma RIIa and Fc gamma RIIIb were performed. Homozygosity for the G2M*n allele, which is known to promote Ab responses to polysaccharide Ags, was strongly associated with the absence of severe infections (P < 0.001) in the patients, suggesting a major protective role. The combination of mannan (or mannose)-binding lectin and C2 deficiency was found to be a minor susceptibility factor for invasive infection (p = 0.03). Low concentrations of IgG2 and factor B might sometimes contribute to susceptibility to infection. Other factors investigated did not appear to be important. In conclusion, the findings indicated that efficient Ab responses to polysaccharides are protective against severe infection in C2D. Implications with regard to vaccinations should be considered.
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| 8. |
- Jönsson, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Rheumatological manifestations, organ damage and autoimmunity in hereditary C2 deficiency.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0332 .- 1462-0324. ; 46:7, s. 1133-1139
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To analyse rheurnatological manifestations, organ damage and autoimmune responses in a large cohort of patients (n = 45) with homozygous C2 deficiency (C2D) and long-term follow-up. Methods. Medical records were reviewed and were supplemented with a mailed questionnaire for assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Organ damage was evaluated using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SLICC/ACR DI). Causes for disability pensions were investigated. Autoantibodies were determined with established methods. Results. Patients with rheurnatological diseases had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 12), undifferentiated connective tissue disease (n=5) or vasculitis (n=3). Judging from annual SLICC/ACR DI, C2D patients with SLE run a similar risk of development of severe disease as other patients with SLE. An increased rate of CVD was observed not explained by Framingham-related risk factors. Disability pensions were mainly related to rheurnatological disease. The prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies in C2D with SLE and of anti-SS-A was 25% while anti-RNP was found in 45%. Only one patient showed antibodies to dsDNA. Formation of anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) appeared to be increased in C2D despite the absence of an anti-phosphol ipid syndrome. The prevalence of antibodies to the collagen-like region of C1q (C1qCLR) was also remarkably high and was not related to rheumatological manifestations. Conclusions. Severity of SLE in C2D is similar to that of SLE in other patients. Conventional risk factors do not explain the occurrence of CVD in C2D. The high prevalence of aCL and anti-C1qCLR indicates mechanisms through which impaired complement function promotes formation of autoantibodies.
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| 9. |
- Jönsson, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Vaccination against encapsulated bacteria in hereditary C2 deficiency results in antibody response and opsonization due to antibody-dependent complement activation.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1521-6616. ; 144:3, s. 214-227
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hereditary C2 deficiency (C2D) is an important susceptibility factor for invasive infections caused by encapsulated bacteria such as pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The infections are mostly seen in childhood indicating that antibody-mediated acquired immunity is affected. C2D persons and healthy controls were vaccinated with ActHIB® and Pneumo23®. Analysis of specific antibodies to pneumococci serotype 6B, 7F, and 23F, and Hib was performed. Post-vaccination IgG antibodies against pneumococci serotype 6B and 23F at a concentration ≥1.0mg/L was found in similar frequency in C2D persons and controls. Post-vaccination sera from C2D persons showed poor complement-mediated opsonization and phagocytosis of pneumococci by granulocytes when depending on classical and lectin pathway activation only, but increased (p=0.007) and equaled that of the normal controls when also alternative pathway activation was allowed due to antibody-dependent C2 bypass activation. In conclusion, the C2D persons benefited from the vaccination and achieve an increased phagocytic capacity.
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| 10. |
- Martini, Paolo G. V., et al.
(författare)
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Recombinant human complement component C2 produced in a human cell line restores the classical complement pathway activity in-vitro: an alternative treatment for C2 deficiency diseases
- 2010
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Ingår i: BMC Immunology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2172. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Complement C2 deficiency is the most common genetically determined complete complement deficiency and is associated with a number of diseases. Most prominent are the associations with recurrent serious infections in young children and the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in adults. The links with these diseases reflect the important role complement C2 plays in both innate immunity and immune tolerance. Infusions with normal fresh frozen plasma for the treatment of associated disease have demonstrated therapeutic effects but so far protein replacement therapy has not been evaluated. Results: Human complement C2 was cloned and expressed in a mammalian cell line. The purity of recombinant human C2 (rhC2) was greater than 95% and it was characterized for stability and activity. It was sensitive to C1s cleavage and restored classical complement pathway activity in C2-deficient serum both in a complement activation ELISA and a hemolytic assay. Furthermore, rhC2 could increase C3 fragment deposition on the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae in C2-deficient serum to levels equal to those with normal serum. Conclusions: Taken together these data suggest that recombinant human C2 can restore classical complement pathway activity and may serve as a potential therapeutic for recurring bacterial infections or SLE in C2-deficient patients.
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