Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) - A possible link between coagulation and complement activation in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Background: Thrombosis and complement activation are pathogenic features of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Their molecular link is Plasma carboxypeptidase-B, also known as thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa), which plays a dual role: anti-fibrinolytic, by cleaving carboxyl-terminal lysine residues from partially degraded fibrin, and anti-inflammatory, by downregulating complement anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a.

Aim: To investigate the levels of TAFI (proenzyme) and TAFIa (active enzyme) in relation to complement activation, fibrin clot permeability and fibrinolytic function in clinical and immunological subsets of 52 APS patients and 15 controls.

Microparticles in the blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): phenotypic characterization and clinical associations.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by circulating autoantibodies and the formation of immune complexes. In these responses, the selecting self-antigens likely derive from the remains of dead and dying cells, as well as from disturbances in clearance. During cell death/activation, microparticles (MPs) can be released to the circulation.

Cigarette smoking, antiphospholipid antibodies and vascular events in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: Smoking can induce autoantibodies in persons who are genetically predisposed to rheumatoid arthritis. We investigated the association between smoking and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a question not previously addressed. Further, we explored the relationship between smoking, aPL and vascular events (arterial and venous, VE).

Studies of fibrin formation and fibrinolytic function in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objective: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by persistent antiphospholipid antibodies together with thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity. We investigated the tightness of fibrin clot and fibrinolytic function in plasma samples from APS patients compared with two control groups.

Material And Methods: APS patients (n=49), healthy controls (HC) (n=19) and warfarin-treated nonAPS thrombosis controls (nonAPS-TC) (n=39) were investigated.

Clinical manifestations and anti-phospholipid antibodies in 712 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: evaluation of two diagnostic assays.

Objectives: To evaluate the agreement and performance of two tests for aPLs with regard to association with manifestations of the APS in patients with SLE.

Methods: We investigated 712 SLE patients and 280 population controls. Cardiolipin and β(2) glycoprotein-I antibodies were measured with routine ELISA and a new automated method.

Severe group A streptococcal infections in Uppsala County, Sweden: clinical and molecular characterization of a case cluster from 2006 to 2007.

This study describes a recent cluster of 30 patients (median age 52 years) with serious group A streptococcal (GAS) infections in Uppsala County, Sweden, from December 2006 to May 2007. Patients hospitalized with a severe GAS infection, i.e.