Back to Search
Start Over
New insights into the taxonomy of autoimmune diseases based on polyautoimmunity.
- Source :
-
Journal of autoimmunity [J Autoimmun] 2022 Jan; Vol. 126, pp. 102780. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 16. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Objective: The clinical coexistence of two or more autoimmune diseases (ADs) fulfilling classification criteria is termed "overt polyautoimmunity" (PolyA), whereas the presence of autoantibodies unrelated to an index AD, without clinical criteria fulfillment, is known as "latent PolyA". We aimed to explore a new taxonomy of ADs based on PolyA.<br />Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 292 subjects, we evaluated the presence of PolyA in 146, 45, 29, 17, and 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), respectively, and 38 healthy controls. Clinical assessment, autoantibody profile (by autoantigen array chip), lymphocytes immunophenotype and cytokine profile (by flow cytometry) were evaluated simultaneously. A mixed cluster methodology was used to classify ADs.<br />Results: Latent PolyA was more frequent than overt PolyA, ranging from 69.9% in RA to 100% in SSc. Nevertheless, both latent and overt PolyA clustered together. Over-expressed IgG autoantibodies were found to be hallmarks for the identification of index ADs. The combination of autoantibodies allowed high accuracy in the classification of ADs. Three well-defined clusters based on PolyA were observed with distinctive clinical and immunological phenotypes.<br />Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study indicates that ADs can be classified according to PolyA. PolyA should be considered in all studies dealing with ADs, including epidemiological, genetic, and clinical trials.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Autoantibodies
Autoimmunity
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Autoimmune Diseases complications
Autoimmune Diseases diagnosis
Autoimmune Diseases epidemiology
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic complications
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic diagnosis
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic epidemiology
Sjogren's Syndrome complications
Sjogren's Syndrome diagnosis
Sjogren's Syndrome epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1095-9157
- Volume :
- 126
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of autoimmunity
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34923432
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102780