New Insights into Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) is a rare chronic autoimmune disorder (2-3 times more common in women than in men), associated with interstitial lung disease (the most important feature), dermatomyositis (DM), and polymyositis (PM). The cause of ASS is unknown. Recent developments in immunology have improved our knowledge and it is now possible to classify ASS according to the presence of myositis specific autoantibodies.

Multiple Intracerebral Hemorrhages in an Old Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

A 78-year-old Caucasian man was admitted in the Department of Neurology for visual disturbances, started two days before. The next day the patient experienced headache, fever and gait disturbances. He had hypertension, diabetes mellitus, an ischemic stroke 13 years ago, longstanding seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (17 years), polynodular goiter, right ischio-pubian fracture and right femoral vein thrombosis a year ago due to a car accident, since he is treated with oral anticoagulants associated to antiaggregant, hypotensors, statin and oral antidiabetics.

The human microbiome in autoimmune diseases.

The human microbiome is the collection of all of the genes in all of the microbes in and on our bodies. Recently, the more appropriate term is "microbiota". There are numerous and complex relationships between the microbiome and our immune system.

Rheumatoid arthritis and ischemic strokes in a young woman. Are these conditions interrelated?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease which is associated with an increased risk of cardio and cerebrovascular pathology. A 48-year old Caucasian female was admitted for diffuse arthralgias. She was diagnosed eight years before with seropositive RA and she received Methotrexate, Prednisone and anti-inflammatory drugs.

The role of heavy metals in autoimmunity.

Our understanding of autoimmune diseases has progressed tremendously in the past 20 years. Estimates of the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in the population may be 4% or higher. It is evident that heavy metals present serious risk to human health.