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Biomedical subjects

R Caporali

Publications and source records attributed to R Caporali.

82 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-SSB/La antibodies in Sjögren's syndrome and related autoimmune diseases. Results of a quantitative immunoassay using a highly purified antigen.

A quantitative immunoassay using a highly purified antigen from HeLa cells has allowed us to detect antibodies to SSB/La in 11/20 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), 15/33 with SLE, and 11/35 with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). However, positive results were found in only 2/12 patients with idiopathic Raynaud's disease and 2/20 with rheumatoid arthritis, including 4 with secondary SS. Anti-SSB/La were associated with extraglandular manifestations in primary SS, and with a diffuse sclerodermic pattern in PSS. In SS, SLE and PSS, a positive anti-SSB/La test was strongly associated with nodal or spleen enlargement and with an increased level of gamma-globulins. A direct association was also found with positive tests for rheumatoid factors, anti-SSA/Ro and anti-Scl 70. An inverse relationship was however found with anti-nRNP +/- Sm and anticentromere antibodies. Our data suggest that anti-SSB/La antibodies can be regarded as a marker of B-lymphocyte activation in patients with either primary SS, SLE or PSS.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hematological abnormalities associated with anticardiolipin antibodies.

Information about anticardiolipin antibodies in different autoimmune diseases has increased rapidly in the last few years. Clinical and laboratory associations with hematologic disturbances such as recurrent thromboses, lupus anticoagulant, autoimmune thrombocytopenia and positive Coombs' test have been reported in many studies. The present paper deals with a short review on the actual clinical significance of detection and measurement of anticardiolipin antibodies, as well as their putative role in different blood disorders.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-phospholipid antibodies and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Anti-phospholipid antibodies were measured in 9 patients with active thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). 8 patients had primary TTP and one had TTP secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). No patient showed circulating 'lupus' anticoagulants or false positive tests for syphilis. A solid phase immuno-assay for anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) gave negative results in the patient with secondary TTP as well as in all but one case with primary TTP. ACA of IgG class were not found in any TTP patient while they were present in 10 out of 18 patients suffering from thrombocytopenia with active SLE. These data indicate that anti-phospholipid antibodies do not have a role in the development of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia with TTP.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency and clinical significance of anti-RNP antibodies in Italian SLE patients.

The frequency and clinical significance of anti-RNP antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are still a matter of debate. In this study we report our experience with a series of 123 unselected Italian patients (93 adults and 30 children) suffering from SLE according to the ARA criteria. Anti-RNP were detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in 25 patients (20%), 19 of whom did not show other antibodies to extractable antigens (isolated RNP). Our study shows a striking association between anti-RNP and arthritis as well as between anti-RNP and Raynaud's phenomenon. In addition, we found an association between anti-RNP and lack of renal involvement. This association was limited to those patients with isolated RNP and was independent of the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies. These data were confirmed by a 50 month follow-up study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs): an emerging family of autoantigens in rheumatic diseases.

In eukaryotic cells, mature mRNA molecules are produced through the extensive post-transcriptional processing of primary transcripts assembled in ribonucleoprotein complexes. Twenty polypeptides, termed heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins or hnRNPs, have been identified as the major components of such complexes. Although these proteins were identified more than 30 years ago, their role in RNA metabolism is just beginning to emerge. In contrast to previous models that ascribed to hnRNPs a mere structural function, recent data suggest a direct involvement in several aspects of the RNA life, such splicing, export of the mature mRNAs to the cell cytoplasm and translation. In addition, a growing body of evidence points to hnRNPs as an important target of the autoimmune response in rheumatic diseases. The present paper will review some of the most relevant data concerning the structure, function and autoantigenic properties of the hnRNPs.

Autoantigens↗