Anti-RA 33 antinuclear autoantibody in rheumatoid arthritis and mixed connective tissue disease: comparison with antikeratin and antiperinuclear antibodies.

Besides rheumatoid factor (RF), antikeratin antibodies (AKA) and antiperinuclear factor (APN), anti-RA 33 antibody has been described as a highly specific antinuclear antibody for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study RA 33 antibodies were detected using Western blotting with HeLa cell nuclear extract in a group of 94 RA patients and 259 controls. Anti-RA 33 was present in 35% of 94 RA patients, with a similar frequency in RF positive (32%) and RF-negative (45%) RA patients.

Ten-years follow-up of 20 patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia.

The follow-up and characteristics of 20 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and no detectable heart disease is reported. These were 16 men and four women with a mean age of 44 years. Symptoms were present in 18 patients (eight had syncope and ten palpitations or dizziness), VT was sustained in 11 patients and a left bundle branch block morphology with inferior axis was found in 17 patients.