IgG,kappa monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance with AL amyloidosis simulating giant cell arteritis.

Monoclonal gammopathies complicated by AL amyloidosis can mimic giant cell arteritis (GCA). We hereby present the case of a 63 year old woman in whom symptoms consistent with GCA were the first manifestations of a monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) associated with amyloidosis. A 63 year old woman was admitted for temporal headache, maseterine claudication, neck and shoulder stiffness.

Circulating Reticulocalbin 1 and Reticulocalbin 3 in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: Results of a Case Control Study.

Background: Proteomic candidate biomarkers for systemic sclerosis (Ssc) useful for appropriate patient evaluation and follow-up were identified in mass-spectrometry studies; however, most of these biomarkers were not evaluated and confirmed on independent patient samples. Up-regulation of reticulocalbin 1 (RCN1) and reticulocalbin 3 (RCN3) in the dermal fibroblast secretome originating from Ssc patients was previously described. The aim of the study was to evaluate circulating RCN1 and RCN3 as candidate biomarkers for Ssc clinical expression.

Annexin A5 as independent predictive biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Background: Increased atherosclerosis prevalence in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an epidemiological certainty. SLE patients are linked to endothelial immune conflict, chronic inflammation antiphospholipid antibodies, and high serum annexin A5 levels. Many of these factors belong to the inflammatory cascade which is common to both SLE and ATS.