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Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies against bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI-ANCA) are known to be present in patients with cystic fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, and inflammatory bowel disease, especially in relation to chronic Gram-negative bacterial infection. To investigate the possible role of BPI-ANCA in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we measured the serum titer of BPI-ANCA and examined clinical manifestations, including pulmonary complications, in patients with RA. Seventy-four RA patients were recruited to our study. The titer of BPI-ANCA was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pulmonary complications were evaluated using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), which revealed 26 patients with bronchial diseases (BD group), 25 with interstitial pneumonia (IP group), and 23 without any particular lung lesion (normal group). The correlations between the titer of BPI-ANCA and patients’ clinical and laboratory findings were then analyzed. The numbers of tender joints, swollen joints, and the Disease Activity Score including 28 joint count were significantly higher in the BD group. The titer of BPI-ANCA was positively correlated with age, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and bronchial involvement in all subjects. Stepwise multiple regression analysis of factors affecting the titer of BPI-ANCA selected ESR and bronchial involvement as independent variables. Our results show that BPI-ANCA was positively correlated with chronic inflammatory status in RA patients, and we is believe it is positively linked with bronchial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report we describe the case of identical twin sisters that developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These patients have in common major histocompatibility complex class I and class II alleles and identical red blood cell antigens, which is a clear indication of monozygotic twins. Both twins showed high titers of anti-dsDNA antibody. However, only one of them manifested signs of lupus psychosis and was positive for the LE test, rheumatoid factor, anti-Scl 70, anti-SSA, and antiribosomal P antibodies. Both sisters lived together; therefore, the environmental factors were considered to be the same. Interestingly, these patients expressed different types of autoantibodies and the manifestation of disease was also quite different. When one of the twins was diagnosed with SLE, we began to closely follow up signs of the disease in the other twin periodically. This enabled us to promptly diagnose the second twin with SLE and she was successfully treated without progression of the disease. It is important to mention that following up the subsequent history of an identical twin diagnosed with SLE allowed early detection of the disease in the other twin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Backgrorund: It is uncertain whether atherosclerosis is accelerated in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients with long-term well-controlled systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: We measured the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries and the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in 39 women with SLE and in age- and sex-matched controls. Results: In the premenopausal state, carotid plaque was detected only in SLE patients (36%). In the postmenopausal state, the maximum IMT was about 2-fold greater in SLE patients than in control subjects (1.3±0.7 vs. 0.7±0.2 mm, p <0.001). CAVI was higher in both the premenopausal and postmenopausal SLE patients. The serum amyloid A protein (SAA) was higher in SLE patients in the premenopausal state (p =0.025), while remnant like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C), the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and SAA were significantly increased in postmenopausal SLE patients (p =0.001, p <0.001 and p <0.05, respectively). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the maximum IMT was associated with cumulative PSL dosage (p =0.027) and SAA (p =0.074) in the premenopausal SLE patients, and with HOMA-IR (p <0.001) in the postmenopausal SLE patients. Conclusion: Atherosclerosis is accelerated in long-term well-controlled SLE. More attention should be given to subclinical inflammation and insulin resistance in the management of SLE patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]