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Front Immunol 2019 5;10:376. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases- Coordinating Center of Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta Network for Rare Diseases, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin and S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy.

Is it well-known that one of the major drawbacks of Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) test is their sensitivity to anticoagulant therapy, due to the coagulation based principle. In this study we aimed to assess the reproducibility of LA testing and to evaluate the performance of solid assay phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT) antibodies. We included 60 patients that fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: (I) diagnosis of thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS); (II) patients with thrombosis and (a) inconstant previous LA positivity and/or (b) positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) at low-medium titers [defined as levels of anti-β2Glycoprotein-I or anticardiolipin (IgG/IgM) 10-30 GPL/MPL] with no previous evidence of LA positivity. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2019 Mar 17;55(3). Epub 2019 Mar 17.

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", 98123 Messina, Italy.

Ischemic stroke is a complex multifactorial disorder. Anticoagulation is a growing research area, with the main goal of preventing systemic embolization and stroke. We report the case of a 41-year-old woman with antiphospholipid syndrome who was unsuccessfully treated with Dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant, as she developed a major stroke involving the right carotid artery, due to deep venous thrombosis with pulmonary embolism. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Mar 14;9(1):4530. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Département de microbiologie et immunologie, Faculté de Médecine de l'Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada.

Mitochondria are organelles that govern energy supply and control cell death. Mitochondria also express bacterial features, such as the presence of inner membrane cardiolipin and a circular genome rich in hypomethylated CpG motifs. While mitochondrial extrusion by damaged organs or activated cells is thought to trigger innate immunity, it is unclear whether extracellular mitochondria also stimulate an adaptive immune response. Read More

Haematologica 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

University of Florence;

Systemic lupus erythematosus is frequently associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. Patients with lupus-antiphospholipid syndrome are characterized by recurrent arterial/venous thrombosis, miscarriages, and persistent presence of autoantibodies against phospholipid-binding proteins, such as β2-Glycoprotein I. We investigated the cytokine production induced by β2-Glycoprotein I in activated T cells that infiltrate in vivo atherosclerotic lesions of lupus-antiphospholipid syndrome patients. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 14;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

A 52-year-old man presented to our cardiology service for an elective diagnostic coronary angiogram for risk stratification in the context of stable angina. He was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome 2 years prior and had three known thrombotic episodes in the form of a stroke, retinal artery occlusion and deep vein thrombosis. Our initial differential was atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, however, coronary angiography demonstrated a dominant right coronary artery with a long segment of chronic spontaneous dissection distally but with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction III flow. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Clinical Laboratory and Hematology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, PR China.

Accelerated atherosclerosis often occurs in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and auto-antibodies to β glycoprotein I (anti-βGPI) are confirmed as pathogenic antibodies to APS. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the conversion of mouse peritoneal macrophages into foam cells could be enhanced by co-existence of βGPI and anti-βGPI IgG, but this phenomenon has not been explored in vivo. Here, we present a mouse model to observe the effect of anti-βGPI IgG in the development of atherosclerosis. Read More

PLoS One 2019 14;14(3):e0212614. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Rouen University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Rouen, France.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) promote endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and procoagulant state. We investigated the effect of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on prothrombotic state and endothelial function in mice and in human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Human aPL were injected to C57BL/6 mice treated or not with HCQ. Read More

Rev Prat 2018 Apr;68(4):e165-e175

Service de médecine interne, hôpital Saint-Antoine (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.

J Thromb Haemost 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine Hokkaido University.

Background/objective: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are pathogenic autoantibodies in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of aPL production.

Methods: T cell and B cell subsets were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 26 primary APS (PAPS), 19 systemic lupus erythematosus-associated APS (SLE/APS) patients and 10 healthy controls. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 25;10:199. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.

Brain Dev 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Pediatrics, St Mary's Hospital, Japan; Research Center for Children and Research Center for Rett Syndrome, St Mary's Hospital, Japan. Electronic address:

Infarct locations in children with arterial ischemic stroke have primarily been reported to be lobar or in the basal ganglia, and those in patients with Down syndrome (DS) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are typically wide and multiple. No solitary brain stem infarctions have ever been reported in children with DS until now. Here, we report a case of brain stem infarction in a 6-year-old boy with DS who had no cardiac, renal, or intestinal complications. Read More

Hum Antibodies 2019 Feb 25. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) and anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) positivity and related diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, and other autoimmune diseases are known to be associated with obstetrical complications and poor perinatal outcomes.

Objective: To demonstrate the importance of ENA, anti-dsDNA, antiphospholipid (APL), and anticardiolipin (ACL) antibody positivity on pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: Ninety one pregnant women with known ENA, anti-dsDNA, APL IgG and IgM, and ACL IgG and IgM antibody positivity were retrospectively compared with 91 randomly selected pregnant woman in terms of obstetrical complications and pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Kans J Med 2019 Feb 26;12(1):22-23. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Department of Internal Medicine.

J Thromb Haemost 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

CHRU de Nancy, Vascular Medicine Division and Regional Competence Center For Rare Vascular And Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Nancy, France.

In a recent article (1), Elsebaie MA et al. performed a systematic review on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) use in venous thromboembolism (VTE) and thrombophilia. In the subgroup of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients and after exclusion of recurrent arterial events, the meta-analysis of six studies (Re-COVER, RE-COVER II, RE-MEDY, EINSTEIN-DVT, EINSTEIN-PE, HOKUSAI VTE, RAPS, TRAPS) suggested that no statistically significant differences were observed between DOACs and warfarin for prevention of recurrent VTE. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35, 128 Padua, Italy. Electronic address:

Blood Adv 2019 Mar;3(5):769-776

Clinical Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Lupus anticoagulant (LA) has been associated with pregnancy complications and pregnancy loss. Identification of predictive factors could aid in deciding on therapeutic management. To identify risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in high-risk women with persistently positive LA, we prospectively followed 82 women of childbearing age, of whom 23 had 40 pregnancies within the Vienna Lupus Anticoagulant and Thrombosis Study. Read More

J Thromb Thrombolysis 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Avenue 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA.

Patients with primary or secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) have an increased risk of recurrent venous, arterial thrombosis and pregnancy complications. Therefore, determining thrombotic risk is important when individualizing antithrombotic therapy in patients with APS. To identify thrombotic risk factors in a cohort of APS patients. Read More

Tex Heart Inst J 2019 02 1;46(1):48-52. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Thrombotic microangiopathic syndromes are characterized by thrombus formation leading to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and end-organ injury that most often affects the kidney and brain. Patients with thrombotic microangiopathy can also present with cardiac involvement, which has been shown to worsen their prognosis. We describe the case of a 46-year-old woman who presented with acute congestive heart failure as a manifestation of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, which is characterized by rapidly progressing multiorgan involvement. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Reproductive Medicine Unit, Obstetric Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: No absolute data on the treatment of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) related to refractory obstetric complications exist to date. TNF-α play a major role in this disorder.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of TNF-α blockers in 18 aPL-positive women with recurrent infertility after therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) plus aspirin (LDA) plus hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(8):e14619

Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China.

Background: Previous clinical studies reported low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) monotherpay has been utilized for the treatment of recurrent abortion (RCA) with antiphospholipid system (APS). However, its efficacy is still inconclusive. This systematic review aims to assess its efficacy and safety for patients with RCA and APS. Read More

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2019 Mar;58(3):198-201

Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.

To analyze the clinical characteristics of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). A total of 22 APS patients with CTEPH were enrolled in our study, who were admitted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to August 2018. Diagnoses were confirmed by computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA), or pulmonary angiography. Read More

Malays Fam Physician 2018 31;13(3):29-30. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

(MD, MMED ORL-HNS) Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otology emergency and carries significant morbidity if the diagnosis is missed. It can present to any specialty but in our local setting the patient usually presents to primary care as it is easily accessible. We present a case of SSNHL that was initially presented to a primary care centre and the patient was reassured without any investigation being carried out. Read More

Nefrologia 2019 Feb 21. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Aim: We investigated whether persistent antiphospholipid syndrome (APLAs) at diagnosis are associated with the risk of thrombotic events during follow-up in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 138 AAV patients. Thrombotic events were defined as arterial and venous thrombosis confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, angiography and Doppler ultrasonography. Read More

J Autoimmun 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Department of Medicine 'B' Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address:

It is well established that the humoral immunity in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is presented by circulating pathogenic anti-β2GPI autoantibodies targeting mainly domain I of the β2GPI protein, playing a major role in the disease pathogenesis. Previously, we have demonstrated that treatment of experimental APS mice with tolerogenic dendritic cells loaded with domain-I was more efficient in tolerance induction than with the whole molecule or domain-V. In the current study we had orally administered a domain-I derivative of the β2GPI molecule, as a new therapeutic approach to induce oral tolerance in this mouse model of APS. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2019 Feb 22:1-2. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

a Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases (UnIRAR) , IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University , Milan , Italy.

Turk J Emerg Med 2019 Jan 9;19(1):36-38. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Introduction: Portal system ischemia may present insidiously which may aggravates the prognosis.

Case Presentation: A 26-year old man presented with watery diarrhea and generalized abdominal pain for 3 months. On physical examination, moderate splenomegaly was noticeable. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 6;10:82. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Rheumatology/Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

New treatment options constitute unmet needs for patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway by sirolimus, a drug approved and in clinical use to prevent transplant rejection, has shown promising effects in lupus animal models as well as in patients with both antiphospholipid syndrome and SLE. Sirolimus inhibits antigen-induced T cell proliferation and increases the number of circulating regulatory T cells. Read More

Thromb Res 2019 Feb 11;176:67-73. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Krakow Center for Medical Research and Technology, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland; Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address:

Introduction: Thrombophilia screening has limited detection efficiency. We assessed the detection rate when a standardized approach to thrombophilia-screened outpatients was used.

Methods: We analyzed 1185 patients (36. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2019 ;119(1):102-109

Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia.

The paper addresses genetic causes of stroke: MELAS, antiphospholipid syndrome, CADASIL, Fabry disease. The etiology and pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods of these diseases are described. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Feb 18;21(1):62. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: Previous studies and own clinical observations of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) suggest that SLE harbors distinct immunophenotypes. This heterogeneity might result in differences in response to treatment in different subgroups and obstruct clinical trials. Our aim was to understand how SLE subgroups may differ regarding underlying pathophysiology and characteristic biomarkers. Read More

Expert Rev Hematol 2019 Mar 26;12(3):147-158. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

a Haemorrhagic and Thrombotic Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED) , Padova University Hospital , Padova , Italy.

Introduction: Fifty-three years after the first description of an inherited prothrombotic condition (antithrombin deficiency), our knowledge on hereditary and acquired causes of hypercoagulability that can predispose carriers to venous thromboembolism (VTE) has greatly improved. Areas covered: Main causes of hereditary thrombophilia are summarized alongside new prothrombotic mutations recently discovered. The main causes of acquired thrombophilia, and namely, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and hyperhomocysteinemia, are also discussed together with other common acquired prothrombotic states characterized by an increase of procoagulant factors and/or a decrease of natural anticoagulants. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia.. Electronic address:

Overt polyautoimmunity (PolyA) corresponds to the presence of more than one well-defined autoimmune disease (AD) manifested clinically in a single patient. The current study aimed to describe the main characteristics of juvenile PolyA in a pediatric rheumatology setting and analyze the chronological aspects, index cases, familial autoimmunity, and clustering pattern. This was a cross-sectional and multicenter study in which 313 children with overt PolyA were included. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, High Risk Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autonoma, Barcelona, Spain.

Aim: To analyse the clinical features, laboratory data and foetal-maternal outcomes, and follow them up on a cohort of 1000 women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS).

Methods: The European Registry of OAPS became a registry within the framework of the European Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibody projects and was placed on a website in June 2010. Thirty hospitals throughout Europe have collaborated to carry out this registry. Read More

Autoimmun Rev 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

Objective: Recently, two studies demonstrated that a relevant percentage of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) patients had an upregulation of interferon (IFN) genes. However, 20%-28% of these patients had anti-dsDNA, a highly specific systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) autoantibody. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the type I IFN signature in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PAPS patients without specific SLE autoantibodies and search for its clinical associations. Read More

Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc 2019 Mar 1;22:148-149. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) is well known to cause thrombotic events and premature atherosclerosis leading to coronary artery occlusion. The association of non-thrombotic acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) with APLS is not as clearly delineated. The objective of this study was to determine the relative prevalence of myocardial infarction with non obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) compared to MI from vaso-occlusive disease amongst patients with known APLS at our institution. Read More

Clin Chem Lab Med 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College and John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland.

Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) cause false positive lupus anticoagulant (LA) results. We assessed the impact of DOAC-Stop, reversing in vitro effects of DOACs, on LA testing in anticoagulated patients. Methods We assessed 75 venous thromboembolism patients aged 44. Read More

Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Montefiore Medical Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, United States of America.

Background: Published data on the outcome of coronary artery revascularization in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are limited. Because APS is associated with a high rate of arterial thrombosis, there is concern that coronary revascularization in this group may be complicated by increased need for repeat revascularization. We aimed to determine the incidence and timing of repeat revascularization performed in patients with APS undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2018 27;5(9):000934. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Rare Diseases and Periodic Fevers Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

The use of human intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) currently relies on evidence from small case series and is mainly regarded as an off-label strategy in cases that are refractory to conventional therapies or poorly controlled with high doses of corticosteroids. Standard dosage regimens typically entail the administration of a total amount of 2 g/kg of IVIg divided into five consecutive days in order to minimize the risk of severe adverse events. We herein describe the case of a 28-year-old woman with a known history of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) who was admitted to our hospital following fulminant onset of SLE in spite of ongoing immunosuppressive therapy. Read More

Lupus 2019 Feb 12:961203319828833. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

1 Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: Transcranial Doppler is a method that enables the assessment of different cerebral hemodynamic parameters. It also allows for the evaluation of the presence of right-to-left circulation shunts (RLS) and for the detection of microembolic signals (MESs), which might be associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events. For instance, the presence of MESs on transcranial Doppler in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with an increased risk of stroke. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Cardiology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel institute of Medicine, 7 Michal St., Haifa, Israel.

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan.

Purpose Of Review: Although antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is best known for conveying increased risk of thrombotic events and pregnancy morbidity, thrombocytopenia is also recognized as a common association. In this review, we will explore the relationship between thrombocytopenia and APS, highlighting our evolving understanding - and persistent knowledge gaps - through clinically oriented questions and answers.

Recent Findings: A history of thrombocytopenia likely portends a more severe APS phenotype (including increased risk of thrombosis). Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

The University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address:

Objective: To review the current literature, and evaluate the psychometric properties of disease damage indices in rheumatic diseases.

Methods: A search of Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to June 2018 to identify damage indices in all systemic rheumatic diseases. Articles were included in a systematic review if indices were composite (multi-organ) in nature and if adequate detail on methodology was described. Read More

J Proteome Res 2019 Mar 18;18(3):1208-1217. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Computational Life Science Cluster (CLiC), Department of Chemistry , Umeå University , 901 87 Umeå , Sweden.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the cytokine profiles differed between autoantibody based subgroups of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a systemic autoimmune disease, characterized by periods of flares (active disease) and remission (inactive disease). The disease can affect many organ systems, e. Read More

Med J Aust 2019 Mar 10;210(5):227-235. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is the third most common cardiovascular disease and, globally, more than an estimated 10 million people have it yearly. It is a chronic and recurrent disease. The symptoms of VTE are non-specific and the diagnosis should actively be sought once considered. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2019 Feb 31;5(2):198-200. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California.

Int J Rheum Dis 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Translational Medicine Laboratory, Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Aim: Dysregulated apoptosis has been implicated in autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we investigated the apoptosis-related cytokines and apoptosis in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (pAPS).

Method: We prospectively recruited 12 pAPS patients, 17 antiphospholipid antibody (APA)-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without APS manifestations (APA SLE), 13 SLE patients with secondary APS (APS SLE) and 10 healthy controls (HCs). Read More

Indian J Clin Biochem 2019 Jan 10;34(1):95-100. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

Department of Pediatric Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, 35040 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.

Anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies (anti-β2GPI) which are the main antiphospholipid antibodies that characterize the autoimmune "antiphospholipid syndrome" are pathogenic and are contributing to thrombosis. We aimed to evaluate the presence and the diagnostic importance of these antibodies in children with different rheumatologic diseases with or without thrombosis risk. A total of 100 children with different rheumatologic diseases evaluated retrospectively. Read More

Arq Bras Oftalmol 2019 Mar-Apr;82(2):155-157

Department of Neuro-radiology, Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Numerous studies have reported on structural vascular anomalies and ischemia associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 that are thought to stem from dysfunction of neurofibromin, the neurofibromatosis type 1 protein. Documented cases of associated antiphospholipid syndrome fulfilling the accepted diagnostic criteria are exceptionally rare, with only three cases reported in the literature. Here, we report on a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 and a history of spontaneous abortions presenting with sudden vision loss in the right eye and swelling of the optic nerve head. Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2018 ;24(35):4167-4176

Department of Prosthodontics, Dental Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an immune system oral disorder that is characterized generally by dry mouth and eyes. In this review, SS classification, presentation and pathogenesis are briefly discussed. Moreover, the epidemiology of SS regarding sex, age and association with other complications are also presented. Read More