Towards a Better Prognosis in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis-Related Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Recent Developments and Perspectives.

Precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a significant complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc). It represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, correlating with a significantly dismal prognosis and quality of life. Despite advancements in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with SSc (SSc-PAH), no significant improvement has been reported in survival of patients with precapillary SSc-PH associated with extensive lung parenchyma disease.

Identification of an optimal prolactin threshold to determine prolactinoma size using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Prolactinomas represent the most common type of secretory pituitary neoplasms, with a therapeutic management that varies considerably based on tumour size and degree of hyperprolactinemia. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between serum prolactin (PRL) concentrations and prolactinoma size, and to determine a cut-off PRL value that could differentiate micro- from macro-prolactinomas. A retrospective cohort study of 114 patients diagnosed with prolactinomas between 2007 and 2017 was conducted.

Anti-Ro60 Seropositivity Determines Anti-Ro52 Epitope Mapping in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis.

Epitope mapping of anti-Ro52 antibodies (Abs) has been extensively studied in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Comprehensive epitope mapping in systemic sclerosis (SSc), where anti-Ro52 antibodies are also frequently detected, has not been performed. The aim of the present study was to fully characterize Ro52 epitopes in anti-Ro52-positive SSc using Ro52 fragments spanning the full antigen.

Mucosal Autoimmunity to Cell-Bound GP2 Isoforms Is a Sensitive Marker in PSC and Associated With the Clinical Phenotype.

Zymogen granule glycoprotein 2 (GP2) was demonstrated as first autoimmune mucosal target in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) associated with disease severity. Autoantibodies to four GP2 isoforms (aGP2) were found in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases but reactivity against specific GP2 epitopes has not been investigated in PSC yet. Hence, the prevalence of aGP2 and their association with the PSC phenotype for risk prediction were examined.