Article
Immunology
Marco Vincenzo Lenti, Carlo Maria Rossi, Federica Melazzini, Matteo Gastaldi, Serena Bugatti, Mario Rotondi, Paola Ilaria Bianchi, Antonella Gentile, Luca Chiovato, Carlomaurizio Montecucco, Gino Roberto Corazza, Antonio Di Sabatino
Summary: Autoimmune diseases are prevalent and have a significant disease burden worldwide. The detection of autoantibodies in the serum plays a crucial role in diagnosing and screening these diseases. However, in some cases, patients may not show any autoantibodies, making diagnosis more challenging.
AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Simona Truglia, Silvia Mancuso, Antonella Capozzi, Serena Recalchi, Gloria Riitano, Agostina Longo, Sara De Carolis, Francesca Romana Spinelli, Cristiano Alessandri, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Caterina De Carolis, Roberta Misasi, Maurizio Sorice, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: This study analyzed the prevalence of non-criteria aPL antibodies in a cohort of patients with clinical features consistent with a diagnosis of APS. The results showed that in SN-APS patients, 60.5% resulted positive for at least one non-criteria test in two occasions 12 weeks apart.
Review
Hematology
Vanda Pinto, Augusto Ministro, Nuno Reis Carreira, Ana Cardoso, Catarina Sousa Goncalves, Mickael Henriques, Joao Rato, Emanuel Silva, Luis Mendes Pedro
Summary: Catastrophic APS is a rapidly developing disease with multiorgan involvement and high mortality rate. The presented case underwent emergency surgery and treatment with a favorable outcome.
THROMBOSIS JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Xue Peng, Xi Tan, Aiyun Xing
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy complications. Obstetrical APS (OAPS) specifically refers to APS in pregnant women. The classification criteria for OAPS have generated discussion due to the possibility of excluding certain patients. This article presents two cases of non-criteria OAPS with severe complications and discusses the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this unusual antenatal event. It also provides an overview of the pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical features of OAPS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Christina D. Enescu, Brinda Basida, Nirav Zalavadiya, Rayhaan Akram, Housam Sarakbi
Summary: This case report describes a rare presentation of seronegative CAPS in a young adult with systemic lupus erythematosus, characterized by multiorgan thrombosis. Following high-dose immunomodulatory agents and IVIG treatment, the patient showed clinical improvement. The complexity of this case was further compounded by the inability to use anticoagulation due to cerebral hemorrhage.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ariela Hoxha, Daniela Tormene, Elena Campello, Paolo Simioni
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review on the additional treatments used in refractory and high-risk antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) pregnancies. The results showed that combination therapy with IVIG and PEX achieved a 100% live birth rate in refractory APS pregnancies, while Pravastatin, IA, and PEX showed higher live birth rates in high-risk APS pregnancies.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Gilberto Pires da Rosa, Bernardo Sousa-Pinto, Ester Ferreira, Olga Araujo, Giuseppe Barilaro, Paulo Bettencourt, Ricard Cervera, Gerard Espinosa
Summary: Compared with the control group, the SN-APS group showed more thrombosis recurrence, indefinite anticoagulation, and use of VKA. The presence of these features may negatively impact the clinical course of patients with thrombosis and negative aPL.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katja Perdan-Pirkmajer, Polona Zigon, Anja Boc, Eva Podovsovnik, Sasa Cucnik, Alenka Mavri, Ziga Rotar, Ales Ambrozic
Summary: This study suggests that negative aCL and/or anti-beta 2GPI at the time of acute DVT may not require further aPL testing, while LA should be checked after discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy. Positive aCL and/or anti-beta 2GPI at the time of acute DVT have a strong positive predictive value for APS and may impact therapeutic decisions.
Article
Rheumatology
Antonella Capozzi, Simona Truglia, Brigitta Buttari, Serena Recalchi, Gloria Riitano, Valeria Manganelli, Silvia Mancuso, Cristiano Alessandri, Agostina Longo, Vincenzo Mattei, Elisabetta Profumo, Tina Garofalo, Roberta Misasi, Fabrizio Conti, Maurizio Sorice
Summary: The study identifies Carb-beta(2)-GPI as a new autoantigen in APS, which may be a significant marker for SN-APS patients.
Article
Hematology
Romain Stammler, Yann Nguyen, Cecile Yelnik, Veronique Le Guern, Marc Lambert, Romain Paule, Eric Hachulla, Luc Mouthon, Anastasia Dupre, Felix Ackermann, Virginie Dufrost, Denis Wahl, Bertrand Godeau, Gaelle Leroux, Ygal Benhamou, Estibaliz Lazaro, Eric Daugas, Holy Bezanahary, Arsene Mekinian, Jean-Charles Piette, Nathalie Morel, Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau
Summary: This study analyzed the prevention of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS), focusing on anticoagulation before CAPS episodes. The results indicated that the major precipitating factors of CAPS were infections, pregnancy, and surgery. Among patients with previous APS diagnosis, the proportion of using vitamin K antagonists (VKA) was low and many patients had a subtherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) below 2, suggesting suboptimal anticoagulation management. These findings strongly suggest that inadequate anticoagulation can trigger CAPS.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Michael A. Cole, Gloria F. Gerber, Shruti Chaturvedi
Summary: Complement is a major driver of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and a promising therapeutic target. Reliable, rapid-turnaround biomarkers are needed in APS to predict adverse clinical outcomes and determine who will benefit most from complement inhibition. Current studies highlight the inconsistencies in testing, suggesting that cell-based testing or multiplex panels may be most clinically relevant.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alex A. Gandhi, Shanea K. Estes, Christine E. Rysenga, Jason S. Knight
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a leading cause of thrombosis, with pathogenic antibodies circulating at stable levels in blood, but thrombotic events often requiring a second hit. Investigators have turned to animal models to explore APS mechanisms, with each model having potential advantages and disadvantages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Svetlana Vrzic Petronijevic, Aleksandra Vilotic, Zanka Bojic-Trbojevic, Sanja Kostic, Milos Petronijevic, Ljiljana Vicovac, Milica Jovanovic Krivokuca
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Women with APS are at high risk of recurrent early pregnancy loss and late obstetrical complications. In addition to vascular thrombosis, research has found that aPL has a direct negative effect on placental cells, which is a major mechanism of obstetric APS.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ariadna Anunciacion-Llunell, Candido Munoz, Dirk Roggenbuck, Stefano Frasca, Josep Pardos-Gea, Enrique Esteve-Valverde, Jaume Alijotas-Reig, Francesc Miro-Mur
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune condition characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) associated with vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy complications. The study found that OAPS and TAPS patients displayed different but overlapping clusters based on their aPL reactivities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Hee Sue Kim, Eun Su Lee, Byoung-Soo Shin, Hyun Goo Kang
Summary: Stroke in young patients requires thorough evaluation as they often lack risk factors. Antiphospholipid syndrome can cause arterial thrombosis and pregnancy loss, differential diagnoses should include seronegative antiphospholipid syndrome. Importance lies in diagnosing seronegative antiphospholipid syndrome for patients with clinical features of APS but negative titers to prevent complications.
Article
Rheumatology
Simona Truglia, Silvia Mancuso, Antonella Capozzi, Serena Recalchi, Gloria Riitano, Agostina Longo, Sara De Carolis, Francesca Romana Spinelli, Cristiano Alessandri, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Caterina De Carolis, Roberta Misasi, Maurizio Sorice, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: This study analyzed the prevalence of non-criteria aPL antibodies in a cohort of patients with clinical features consistent with a diagnosis of APS. The results showed that in SN-APS patients, 60.5% resulted positive for at least one non-criteria test in two occasions 12 weeks apart.
Article
Rheumatology
Antonella Capozzi, Simona Truglia, Brigitta Buttari, Serena Recalchi, Gloria Riitano, Valeria Manganelli, Silvia Mancuso, Cristiano Alessandri, Agostina Longo, Vincenzo Mattei, Elisabetta Profumo, Tina Garofalo, Roberta Misasi, Fabrizio Conti, Maurizio Sorice
Summary: The study identifies Carb-beta(2)-GPI as a new autoantigen in APS, which may be a significant marker for SN-APS patients.
Article
Rheumatology
Serena Colafrancesco, Cristiana Barbati, Roberta Priori, Erisa Putro, Federico Giardina, Angelica Gattamelata, Benedetta Monosi, Tania Colasanti, Alessandra Ida Celia, Bruna Cerbelli, Carla Giordano, Susanna Scarpa, Massimo Fusconi, Giulio Cavalli, Onorina Berardicurti, Saviana Gandolfo, Saba Nayar, Francesca Barone, Roberto Giacomelli, Salvatore De Vita, Cristiano Alessandri, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: Autophagy plays a crucial role in the activation of salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Autophagy activation is correlated with histologic severity and has been confirmed in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Therefore, autophagy may serve as a new therapeutic target for primary SS.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Tania Colasanti, Francesca Romana Spinelli, Cristiana Barbati, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Susanna Scarpa, Marta Vomero, Cristiano Alessandri, Guido Valesini, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: This study investigates the impact of Belimumab (BLM) on autophagy and citrullination, finding that BLM treatment can decrease autophagy and citrullination levels in patients with SLE, as well as affect IL-18 concentration.
Letter
Rheumatology
Fulvia Ceccarelli, Matteo Lapucci, Giulio Olivieri, Alessio Sortino, Francesco Natalucci, Francesca Romana Spinelli, Cristiano Alessandri, Marco Sciandrone, Fabrizio Conti
Article
Rheumatology
Fulvia Ceccarelli, Matteo Saccucci, Francesco Natalucci, Giulio Olivieri, Erika Bruni, Roberta Iacono, Tania Colasanti, Gabriele Di Carlo, Cristiano Alessandri, Daniela Uccelletti, Paola Russo, Andrea Pilloni, Fabrizio Conti, Antonella Polimeni
Summary: This study evaluated the possible involvement of oral microbiota in SLE erosive arthritis for the first time, finding a significant association between erosive damage and higher expression of Pg on the tongue. High levels of Pg were associated with more frequent erosive damage and other systemic manifestations in SLE patients.
Article
Rheumatology
Federica M. Ucci, Serena Recalchi, Cristiana Barbati, Valeria Manganelli, Antonella Capozzi, Gloria Riitano, Giorgia Buoncuore, Tina Garofalo, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Francesca R. Spinelli, Eugenia Balbinot, Alessandra Celia, Agostina Longo, Cristiano Alessandri, Roberta Misasi, Maurizio Sorice, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: This study investigated the expression of citrullinated and carbamylated proteins in extracellular microvesicles (EMVs) from RA patients. The results showed a significant increase of EMVs and higher expression of citrullinated antigens in RA patients compared to healthy donors, suggesting the involvement of EMVs in the pathogenesis of RA.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Antonella Capozzi, Valeria Manganelli, Gloria Riitano, Daniela Caissutti, Agostina Longo, Tina Garofalo, Maurizio Sorice, Roberta Misasi
Summary: The pathological features of APS are caused by the activity of aPLs associated with vascular thrombosis and obstetric complications. These aPLs not only serve as disease markers, but also have a determining pathogenetic role in APS by activating cells and coagulation factors. This activation occurs through the interaction of aPLs with specific target receptors on the cell membrane known as lipid rafts.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fulvia Ceccarelli, Francesco Natalucci, Licia Picciariello, Claudia Ciancarella, Giulio Dolcini, Angelica Gattamelata, Cristiano Alessandri, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with diverse immunological features and clinical manifestations, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Machine learning models (MLMs) have shown promise in various aspects of SLE research, such as diagnosis, pathogenesis, disease-related manifestations like Lupus Nephritis, outcomes, treatment, and unique features like pregnancy and quality of life. The review of published data suggests the potential application of MLMs in the SLE scenario.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mariangela Palladino, Martina Del Vecchio, Simone Farroni, Ottavio Martellucci, Antonietta Gigante, Cristiano Alessandri, Maurizio Muscaritoli
Summary: A case of new-onset adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) following Covid-19 vaccination is reported. The patient presented with dyspnea and bilateral swellings several weeks after the first vaccination, leading to suspicion of AOSD based on symptoms and laboratory results. Considering the timing between vaccination and autoimmune disorder onset, physicians should consider adverse events and assess the risks and benefits of Covid-19 vaccination for each patient.
INTERNAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Valeria Manganelli, Roberta Misasi, Gloria Riitano, Antonella Capozzi, Vincenzo Mattei, Tuba Rana Caglar, Davide Ialongo, Valentina Noemi Madia, Antonella Messore, Roberta Costi, Roberto Di Santo, Maurizio Sorice, Tina Garofalo
Summary: This research investigated a new HPSE inhibitor, RDS 3337, and its role in regulating the autophagic process and the balance between apoptosis and autophagy in U87 glioblastoma cells. The results showed that RDS 3337 inhibited autophagic-lysosomal flux, leading to the accumulation of lipidated LC3-II form. This inhibition of autophagic flux activated apoptosis mechanisms. These findings suggest a potential role for HPSE inhibitors in controlling tumor growth progression by balancing apoptosis and autophagy.
Article
Rheumatology
R. Scrivo, C. Castellani, S. Mancuso, G. Sciarra, F. Giardina, G. Bevignani, F. Ceccarelli, F. R. Spinelli, C. Alessandri, M. Di Franco, V. Riccieri, R. Priori, F. Conti
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of non-medical switching between the adalimumab (ADA) bio-originator and the SB5 biosimilar, as well as between two different ADA biosimilars, in patients with inflammatory chronic arthritis. The results showed a significant reduction in patients in remission/low disease activity and an increased risk of moderate-high disease activity after the switch. However, there were no differences in disease activity scores or patient-reported outcomes between the different treatment groups.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
G. Olivieri, F. Ceccarelli, C. Perricone, C. Ciccacci, C. Pirone, F. Natalucci, F. R. Spinelli, C. Alessandri, P. Borgiani, F. Conti
Summary: Fever has been included as a new classification criterion for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study explored the association of fever with other clinical manifestations and found significant correlations with serositis and hematological manifestations. A specific SNP (rs13361189) in the IRGM gene was also found to be associated with fever.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
G. Pellegrino, S. Mancuso, T. Colasanti, S. Mieli, C. Gioia, R. Izzo, P. Pignatelli, M. R. Ciardi, F. Conti, V. Riccieri
Summary: This study analyzed the interference between RF IgM and anti-S1 RBD IgM in the sera of RF seropositive RA patients. The results confirmed the lack of cross-reactivity between RF and anti-S1 RBD IgM, providing a valuable tool for clinicians in managing RA patients undergoing SARS-CoV-2 serological tests.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Alessandra Lo Presti, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Maria Dorrucci, Francesca Farchi, Carmelo Pirone, Cristina Garufi, Catia Valdarchi, Francesca Romana Spinelli, Cristiano Alessandri, Paola Chionne, Elisabetta Madonna, Giulio Pisani, Antonio Martina, Matteo Simeoni, Roberto Bruni, Massimo Ciccozzi, Giancarlo Iaiani, Anna Rita Ciccaglione, Enea Spada, Fabrizio Conti
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HCV and HBV infections in a cohort of SLE and CLE patients, and investigate their possible associations with disease clinical/laboratory features and disease activity status. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection was 2.2% in CLE patients, while no HBsAg positive patients were identified in SLE patients. On the other hand, the prevalence of anti-HCV positive was 2.2% in SLE patients, while no anti-HCV positive patients were identified in CLE patients. Hemodialysis was significantly associated with anti-HBc positivity in SLE patients. These findings suggest a possible protective role of SLE in HBV infection, and a potential involvement of HCV in some SLE-related clinical and immunological features.
NEW MICROBIOLOGICA
(2022)
