serological profile of patients with systemic sclerosis

Introduction: The systemic sclerosis–associated autoantibodies include anti-centromere, anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I), anti-RNA polymerase III, anti-fibrillarin, anti-Th/To, and anti-PDGFR. A specific serological profile is connected with clinical manifestations and prognosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc).Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the serological profile in limited cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous SSc (lcSSc and dcSSc).Patients and methods: 87 (68 female and 19 male) consecutive SSc patients treated between 2006 and 2011 were assessed. Patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria of SSc: 35 – dcSSc and 52 – lcSSc. The following marker antibodies were determined: anti-topo I, anti-centromere A and B (CENP A, CENP B), anti-RNA polymerase III (RP11, RP 155), anti-fibrillarin (U3RNP), anti- -NOR90, anti-Th/To, anti-PM-Scl-100, anti-PM-Scl-75, anti-Ku, anti-Ro-52, anti-PDGFR. The presence of antibodies was assessed using a test – EUROLINE Systemic Sclerosis Profile.Results: 82 patients (94%) had positive antinuclear antibodies; anti-topo I – 29 patients; anti-CENP-A – 20 and anti-CENP-B – 20; anti-RP11 – 9 and anti-RP155 – 7; anti-U3RNP – 1; anti-NOR90 – 6; anti-Th/ To – 3; anti-PM-Scl-100 – 7; anti-PM-Scl-75 – 11; anti-Ku – 5; anti-Ro-52 – 23 patients. We found significant differences in prevalence of anti-topo I: 25/35 vs. 4/52 p=0.0000; anti-CENP A: 0/35 vs. 20/52 p=0.0001; anti-CENP B: 0/35 vs. 20/52 p=0.0001 between dcSSc and lcSSc.Conclusions: Some antibodies in SSc, e.g. anti-topo I and anti-centromere, are useful in defining the clinical subset of disease and provide prognostic information. There are no significant differences in the prevalence of other autoantibodies associated with SSc between dcSSc and lcSSc patients.