Detection of antinuclear antibodies: recommendations from EFLM, EASI and ICAP.

Objectives: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are important for the diagnosis of various autoimmune diseases. ANA are usually detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using HEp-2 cells (HEp-2 IFA). There are many variables influencing HEp-2 IFA results, such as subjective visual reading, serum screening dilution, substrate manufacturing, microscope components and conjugate.

Anti-Phosphatidylethanolamine and Anti-Phosphatidylserine Antibodies-Association with Renal Involvement, Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Manifestations, Raynaud Phenomenon and Disease Activity in Polish Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: To evaluate the association between anti-phosphatidylethanolamine (aPE) and anti-phosphatidylserine (aPS) antibodies and cardiovascular risk, organ involvement and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: We studied 93 SLE patients and 30 controls. We analyzed levels of anti-phospholipid antibodies, including aPS and aPE, the profiles of antinuclear, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA) and anti-endothelial antibodies, carotid intima-media thickness (cITM) and atherosclerotic plaque presence, ankle-brachial and high resistance indices, atherosclerotic risk factors, organ manifestations and treatment.

Anti-dsDNA antibodies in the classification criteria of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies play an important role in the diagnosis, classification and management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations and a wide range of autoantibodies, which makes the diagnosis quite challenging. In the absence of diagnostic criteria, classification criteria have been used for many decades. The first classification criteria for SLE were formulated in 1971 by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), followed by two revisions in 1982 and 1997.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autoimmune diagnostics in Europe: A lesson to be learned.

Introduction: The first wave of COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted almost all areas of the health care services to some extent throughout the world. Although the negative impact of COVID-19 on patients with autoimmune diseases has also been recognized, available data in this regard are limited. In the current study of the European Autoimmunity Standardisation Initiative (EASI) we aimed to provide reliable data on the extent of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on test requests for different autoantibodies in European countries.

Axial spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease: association between disease activity and endothelial dysfunction markers.

Objective: We aimed to assess patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for disease activity and serum markers of endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: We studied 161 patients (123 males, 38 females) with axSpA: 153 with ankylosing spondylitis and 8 with non-radiographic axSpA, and 30 healthy controls (HC). We collected: age; sex; disease duration; extra-articular symptoms (IBD and acute anterior uveitis), comorbidities; human leukocyte antigen B27 status; and treatment.

Quality and best practice in medical laboratories: specific requests for autoimmunity testing.

Special conditions associated with laboratory autoimmune testing are not well compatible with recent developments in regulatory frameworks such as EN/ISO 15189 accreditation or in vitro diagnostic medical device regulation (IVD-R). In addition, international recommendations, guidelines and disease criteria are poorly defined with respect to requirements on autoantibody testing. Laboratory specialists from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands collected information, reported national experience, and identified quality issues in relation to autoantibody testing that require consensus on interpretation of the regulatory frameworks and guidelines.

Serum interleukin-23 protects, whereas methotrexate treatment stimulates selected components of the metabolic syndrome in patients with SAPHO syndrome.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of disease activity, selected serum cytokines, and therapy on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in patients with synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome.

Material And Methods: We studied 46 SAPHO patients (40 women, 6 men). We recorded age, sex, disease duration, arthritis localization, type of skin changes, bone scintigraphy results, comorbidities, BASDAI, VAS, and treatment.

Serum concentrations of VEGF and bFGF in the course of propranolol therapy of infantile hemangioma in children: Are we closer to understand the mechanism of action of propranolol on hemangiomas?

Background: Propranolol has become the treatment of choice for infantile hemangiomas (IH). Neither the pathogenesis of IH nor the mechanism of action of propranolol on them are well understood. Possible explanations include the inhibition of angiogenesis by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), induction of vascular endothelial cell apoptosis and vasoconstriction.

Serum Interleukin-23 in Polish Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association with Lupus Nephritis, Obesity, and Peripheral Vascular Disease.

Objectives: To analyze the correlation between the serum concentration of interleukin- (IL-) 23 and atherosclerotic changes, traditional atherosclerotic risk factors, the autoantibody profile, and involvement of selected organs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Patients And Methods: We studied 94 SLE patients and 27 controls. We analyzed the IL-23 serum concentration, autoantibodies, carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaque, the ankle-brachial index, atherosclerotic risk factors, and organ manifestations.

Extra-Articular Symptoms in Constellation with Selected Serum Cytokines and Disease Activity in Spondyloarthritis.

In this study, we assessed the extra-articular symptoms in constellation with selected serum cytokines and disease activity in spondyloarthritis (SpA). We studied 287 SpA patients: 131 had AS, 110 had PsA, and 46 had SAPHO. We assessed extra-articular symptoms in all cases.

Serum Interleukin-18, Fetuin-A, Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, and Endothelin-1 in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and SAPHO Syndrome.

To examine serum interleukin 18 (IL-18), fetuin-A, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and Synovitis Acne Pustulosis Hyperostosis Osteitis syndrome (SAPHO). We studied 81 AS, 76 PsA, and 34 SAPHO patients. We measured serum IL-18, fetuin-A, sICAM-1, ET-1, IL-6, IL-23, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Serum IL-6 and IL-23 Levels and Their Correlation with Angiogenic Cytokines and Disease Activity in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and SAPHO Syndrome.

Objectives: To assess serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) and their correlation with angiogenic cytokines and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and SAPHO syndrome.

Patients And Methods: We studied 152 spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients: 69 PsA, 61 AS, 22 SAPHO, and 29 controls. We recorded age, sex, disease duration, and treatment.

Associations between the incidence of antiphosphatidylserine and antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies and clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies (aPS) belong to a group of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) that occur in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine associations between the elevated serum concentration of aPE/aPS, the clinical manifestations of SLE, and the presence of other autoantibodies.

Patients And Methods: The study group included 71 patients with SLE.

PTPN22 1858C>T gene polymorphism in patients with SLE: association with serological and clinical results.

To assess the association between PTPN22 1858C>T gene polymorphism and susceptibility to, and clinical presentation of, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our study included 135 SLE patients (120 women and 15 men; mean age 45.1 years; mean course of disease from 0.

Serum levels of angiogenic cytokines in psoriatic arthritis and SAPHO syndrome.

Introduction: Angiogenesis is involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the serum levels of selected angiogenic cytokines and their association with clinical presentation in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and SAPHO syndrome.

Patients And Methods: We studied 98 patients: 80 with PsA and 18 with SAPHO syndrome.

Estimation of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor serum levels' in infant with hemangioma and population of healthy infants.

Introduction: Hemangioma is found in approximately 10% of infants as the most prevalent benign neoplasm. The natural history of hemangioma is typical for this lesion and includes two phases: fast growth during the first year of life of the child and subsequent slow regression lasting some five years. Even though the etiopathogenesis of hemangioma has not been fully elucidated, the role played in this process by vascular growth factors remains unquestionable.

Diagnosis of early atherosclerotic lesions, and selected atherosclerotic risk factors, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Early diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis can be established using noninvasive imaging techniques, which enable to assess atherosclerotic lesions at different stages of their development, from endothelial dysfunction, through morphological lesions in the arteries, to advanced atherosclerotic plaques. Given high risk of accelerated development of atherosclerotic lesions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), these techniques should be incorporated in routine diagnostic evaluation in this population. Cardiovascular risk factors in patients with SLE differ significantly from those observed in the general population.

[Significance of antiphospholipid syndrome and antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in estimation of risk of subclinical atherosclerosis development].

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is an important clinical problem in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), because of very severe cardiovascular and central nervous system manifestations.

Objectives: Estimation if antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.

Patients And Methods: We examined 103 patients with SLE and 30 healthy volunteers, included as the control group.

[Risk factors of thickened intima-media and atherosclerotic plaque development in carotid arteries in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Introduction: The aim of the study was: (1) The evaluation of the frequency of intima-media thickening (IMT) and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in comparison with the control group. (2) The evaluation of the correlation between IMT and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries in patients with SLE and the association of selected immunological and genetic parameters, markers of inflammation, traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis and its treatment. (3) The evaluation of practical usefulness of IMT measurement in diagnostics of early atherosclerosis and the evaluation of risk of its complications in patients with SLE.

[Antiendothelial cell antibodies as a risk factor of atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Purpose: It was confirmed experimentally that antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) react directly with the vascular endothelium and are involved in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. There is evidence for a role of AECA in atherosclerosis. To search for correlations between intima-media thickness (IMT) and high titer of AECA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

[Antiphospholipid syndrome and antiphospholipid antibodies as a risk factors of ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction in patients with SLE--are usually secondary to early coronary atherosclerosis. Estimation if antiphospholipid syndrome and antiphospholipid antibodies are the risk factor for myocardial infarction and ischemic heart disease in patients with TRU. We examined 129 patients with SLE (114 women and 15 men).

[Cardiovascular abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus patients in echocardiographic assessment].

Unlabelled: Cardiovascular system involvement is the third most common reason of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac involvement in the SLE patients with a regard to clinical, serological and environmental risk factors.

Material And Methods: 103 patients were included into the study, 91 women and 12 men, aged 16-74 yrs, the control group included 25 subjects.