Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for the development of autoantibodies in patients with ASIA and silicone breast implants: a cohort study and review of the literature.

The development of autoimmunity and/or autoimmune diseases is multifactorial. Vitamin D is one of the factors that might play a role. We postulated that both the presence of adjuvants and insufficient levels of vitamin D may result in the development of autoimmunity in patients with autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) in relation to silicone implant incompatibility.

Galactosylation and Sialylation Levels of IgG Predict Relapse in Patients With PR3-ANCA Associated Vasculitis.

Objective: The objective of our study is to investigate the Fc glycosylation profiles of both antigen-specific IgG targeted against proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) and total IgG as prognostic markers of relapse in patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: Seventy-five patients with GPA and a PR3-ANCA rise during follow-up were included, of whom 43 patients relapsed within a median period of 8 (2-16) months. The N-glycan at Asn297 of affinity-purified and denatured total IgG and PR3-ANCA was determined by mass spectrometry of glycopeptides in samples obtained at the time of the PR3-ANCA rise and at the time of the relapse or time-matched during remission.

Is explantation of silicone breast implants useful in patients with complaints?

In this review, we present a critical review of the existing literature reflecting the results of explantation of silicone breast implants in patients with silicone-related complaints and/or autoimmune diseases. A literature search was performed to discuss the following issues: which clinical manifestations and autoimmune diseases improve after explantation, and what is the course of these complaints after explantation. Next, we reviewed studies in which the effect of explantation on laboratory findings observed in patients with silicone breast implants was studied, and lastly, we reviewed studies that described the effect of reconstruction of the breast with a new implant or autologous tissue after explantation.

Two hundreds cases of ASIA syndrome following silicone implants: a comparative study of 30 years and a review of current literature.

In this study, we compared one hundred patients with autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) due to silicone implant incompatibility syndrome diagnosed in 2014 in Maastricht, the Netherlands, with one hundred historical patients with adjuvant breast disease diagnosed in the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA, between 1985 and 1992. Similarities and differences between these two cohorts were identified to determine whether the spectrum of silicone-related disease changed during the last 30 years. Patients with complaints possibly due to silicone-filled breast implants were prospectively examined in the Reinaert Clinic, Maastricht, the Netherlands between January 2014 and October 2014.

Endothelial progenitor cells are differentially impaired in ANCA-associated vasculitis compared to healthy controls.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are of major importance in vascular repair under healthy circumstances. Vascular injury in need of repair occurs frequently in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). A specialized T cell subset enhancing EPC function and differentiation has recently been described.

Clinical immunology--autoimmunity in the Netherlands.

Clinical immunology is in the Netherlands a separate clinical specialty within internal medicine and pediatrics. Clinical immunologists work closely together with nephrologists, rheumatologists and many other medical specialists. Apart from research and teaching, clinical immunologists are taking care of patients with immune-deficiencies, vasculitides and systemic auto-immune diseases.

ANCA as a predictor of relapse: useful in patients with renal involvement but not in patients with nonrenal disease.

The value of measuring ANCA during follow-up to predict a relapse is controversial. On the basis of recently obtained pathophysiologic insights, we postulated that measuring ANCA is useful in patients with renal involvement but is less valuable in patients with nonrenal disease. One hundred sixty-six consecutive patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, positive for either proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA or myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA, were included in our study, followed at regular intervals, and tested for PR3-ANCA and MPO-ANCA.

DNA extraction from long-term stored urine.

Background: Traditionally, for DNA analyses, DNA is recovered from buffy coats. Since DNA in urine has been reported to deteriorate quickly, this option is often not considered. To complete our DNA database in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis, we aimed to extract DNA from stored urine.

Silicone implant incompatibility syndrome (SIIS): a frequent cause of ASIA (Shoenfeld's syndrome).

Silicon has a molecular mass of 28 daltons. In nature, silicon is found as silicon dioxide (silica) or in a variety of silicates (e.g.

Cardiovascular disease due to accelerated atherosclerosis in systemic vasculitides.

Patients with different forms of systemic vasculitis experience long-term morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease due to premature atherosclerosis. Epidemiologic reports of patients with GCA suggest that long-term mortality in this disease is not increased compared with the general population of the same age. The risk of a stroke, however, in particular in the vertebrobasilar territory, is increased.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies: how are they detected and what is their use for diagnosis, classification and follow-up?

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are traditionally detected by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. According to the international consensus on ANCA testing, ANCA should also be tested by antigen-specific tests for myeloperoxidase-ANCA and proteinase 3-ANCA. The direct noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used to be the method of choice.