Scleroderma Support Group

Russo K, Hoch S, Dima C, Varga J, Teodorescu M.

Department of Microbiology/Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.

 OBJECTIVE: To determine the disease sensitivity and specificity of testing for autoantibodies against 2 of the 3 main human centromere antigenic components, CENP-A and CENP-B (recombinant, expressed in baculovirus).

Gelber AC, Pillemer SR, Baum BJ, Wigley FM, Hummers LK, Morris S, Rosen A, Casciola-Rosen L.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Mason F Lord Building Center Tower, Suite 4100, Room 407, Baltimore MD 21224, USA. agelber@jhmi.edu

<abstract>

BACKGROUND: Anticentromere antibodies are characteristically observed in scleroderma but have recently been reported in other autoimmune rheumatic disorders, including Sjögren's syndrome. It is not known whether distinct centromere proteins (CENP) are targeted in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and scleroderma.

Koenig M, Joyal F, Fritzler MJ, Roussin A, Abrahamowicz M, Boire G, Goulet JR, Rich E, Grodzicky T, Raymond Y, Senécal JL.

Notre-Dame Hospital, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

<abstract>

OBJECTIVE: To identify in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) independent markers that predict progression to definite systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to determine in patients with progression to SSc the type and sequence of microvascular damage and its relationship to SSc-specific autoantibodies.

Nihtyanova SI, Denton CP.

Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK.

 <abstract>

The pathogenetic role of autoantibodies in systemic sclerosis (SSc) remains unclear, but these autoantibodies have been established as strong predictors of disease outcome and the pattern of organ complications in patients with this condition.

Hachulla E, Launay D.

Department of Internal Medicine, National Scleroderma Center, Hôpital Claude Huriez, Université de Lille 2, 59037, Lille cedex, France, ehachulla@chru-lille.fr.

<abstract>

 As the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is generally suggested by the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon followed by typical skin thickening associated with the presence of additional extracutaneous features, capillaroscopic abnormalities, and characteristic autoantibodies, the first classification criteria, published by the American Rheumatism Association in 1980, were based only on clinical and chest X-ray items. As a consequence, 10% to 20% of the patients did not meet these criteria. In 1988, an international consensus was reached resulting in the proposal of a new and more practical classification based on the judgment and clinical practice of an expert panel. This classification introduced the SSc nail fold capillaroscopy abnormalities (dilation and/or avascular areas) and specific antinuclear antibodies.