Autoantibodies in adult patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in Buenos Aires.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies(IIM) are a heterogeneous group of diseases of the skeletal muscle. On the basis of clinical, serologic and histological differences, they are classified in dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), inclusion body myositis and immunomediated necrotizing myopathy. Autoantibodies directed against nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens are present with variable frequencies among studies. Myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) are useful in IIM because they contribute to the diagnosis, help to identify different clinical subsets, and have prognostic value. This study aimed to explore the frequency of autoantibodies, especially MSAs, and their relationship with clinical features in adult patients with DM, PM and overlap syndrome. Medical records were reviewed. Myositis-associated antibodies (non-specific) and MSAs (anti Jo-1, PL-7, PL-12, Mi-2 and SRP) were measured using commercial kits. Twelve patients had MSAs, an overall frequency similar to those of international series, but PL-12 and Mi-2 were more frequent than Jo-1, which is the most frequently observed elsewhere. All five patients with Mi-2 had classical DM with a favorable response to treatment. Interstitial pneumonia (n: 4) and/or treatment-refractory disease (n: 3) were found in the presence of anti-PL-12, alone or associated with anti-SRP and/or Jo-1. In conclusion, the coexistence of AEM, a rare finding, was found in three patients. The presence of MSAs aided to the diagnosis of IIM, in particular in those patients without available or conclusive biopsy results.

Autoantibodies in adult patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in Buenos Aires

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies(IIM) are a heterogeneous group of diseases of the skeletal muscle. On the basis of clinical, serologic and histological differences, they are classified in dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), inclusion body myositis and immunomediated necrotizing myopathy. Autoantibodies directed against nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens are present with variable frequencies among studies. Myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) are useful in IIM because they contribute to the diagnosis, help to identify different clinical subsets, and have prognostic value. This study aimed to explore the frequency of autoantibodies, especially MSAs, and their relationship with clinical features in adult patients with DM, PM and overlap syndrome. Medical records were reviewed. Myositis-associated antibodies (non-specific) and MSAs (anti Jo-1, PL-7, PL-12, Mi-2 and SRP) were measured using commercial kits. Twelve patients had MSAs, an overall frequency similar to those of international series, but PL-12 and Mi-2 were more frequent than Jo-1, which is the most frequently observed elsewhere. All five patients with Mi-2 had classical DM with a favorable response to treatment. Interstitial pneumonia (n: 4) and/or treatment-refractory disease (n: 3) were found in the presence of anti-PL-12, alone or associated with anti-SRP and/or Jo-1. In conclusion, the coexistence of AEM, a rare finding, was found in three patients. The presence of MSAs aided to the diagnosis of IIM, in particular in those patients without available or conclusive biopsy results.

Las miopatías inflamatorias idiopáticas (MII) comprenden un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades adquiridas del músculo esquelético. Según sus características clínicas, serológicas e histológicas se las clasifica en dermatomiositis (DM), polimiositis (PM), miopatía necrotizante autoinmune y miositis por cuerpos de inclusión. Los anticuerpos específicos de miositis (AEMs) contribuyen al diagnóstico, permiten distinguir formas clínicas y tienen valor pronóstico. Con el objetivo de explorar la frecuencia de autoanticuerpos, en particular AEMs, y su relación con las características clínicas de las MII del adulto, se revisaron las historias clínicas de 25 pacientes con DM, PM y síndromes de superposición, asistidos en nuestro centro entre 1999 y 2013. La presencia de autoanticuerpos asociados a miositis (no específicos) y AEMs (anti Jo-1, PL-7, PL-12, Mi-2, SRP) se investigó utilizando kits comerciales. Doce pacientes presentaron AEMs, frecuencia global similar a la encontrada en series internacionales, pero a diferencia de lo observado en otros países, anti-PL-12 y anti-Mi-2 fueron más frecuentes que anti-Jo-1. Los cinco pacientes con anti-Mi-2 tuvieron DM clásica y buena evolución clínica. Anti-PL-12, ya sea solo o asociado a anti-SRP y/o anti-Jo-1, estuvo presente en pacientes con neumonía intersticial (n:4) y/o enfermedad refractaria al tratamiento (n: 3). En conclusión, la coexistencia de AEM, hallazgo raro, se encontró en tres pacientes. La presencia de AEMSs contribuyó al diagnóstico de MII, en particular en aquellos casos sin resultados concluyentes de biopsia de músculo.

Occurrence of subtilase cytotoxin and relation with other virulence factors in verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from food and cattle in Argentina

We investigated the presence of the gene of subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB), described in certain highly virulent verocytotoxigenic E. coli strains, in isolates from Argentina and its relation with other virulence factors. The gene subA was present in eae-negative strains mostly associated with saa, vt2 and ehxA genes.

Occurrence of subtilase cytotoxin and relation with other virulence factors in verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from food and cattle in Argentina.

We investigated the presence of the gene of subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB), described in certain highly virulent verocytotoxigenic E. coli strains, in isolates from Argentina and its relation with other virulence factors. The gene subA was present in eae-negative strains mostly associated with saa, vt2 and ehxA genes.