Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Elevated Levels of Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae Antibodies Are Associated with Higher Disease Activity in Colombian Patients with Spondyloarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of articular inflammatory rheumatic diseases that their gastrointestinal manifestations are around 10% of their extra-articular symptoms, supporting that the inflammatory response of the intestinal mucosa could be associated with the clinical status. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between gastrointestinal symptoms and autoantibodies and disease activity between SpA patients, healthy subjects (HS), and patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: 102 SpA patients, 29 IBD patients, and 117 HS were included. Autoantibodies as ASCA, ANCA, anti-tTG, anti-DGP, ANA, and IgA were measured. The patients were assessed to evaluate clinical and gastrointestinal symptoms. An association analysis was performed using Chi square test and a logistic regression. RESULTS: Significant differences were found for ASCA levels in SpA (28.2%) compared to IBD (14.2%) and HS (6.0%) (p = 0.029), as well as for ANAS in SpA (49.5%) and IBD (37.9%) (p < 0.001) and abdominal pain (p = 0.012) between SpA (54.3%) and IBD (27.5%). Significant associations were found between BASDAI > 4 and gastrointestinal symptoms (p < 0.05) and IgA (p = 0.007). The association for abdominal bloating was maintained (OR: 3.93, CI-95%, 1.14-13.56; p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal symptoms, ASCA, ANAS, and IgA levels were associated with high disease activity in SpA compared with IBD and HS.

MÉTODOS PARA LA IDENTIFICACIÓN DEL ANTÍGENO DE HISTOCOMPATIBILIDAD HLA-B27: COMPARACIÓN DE CUATRO PROTOCOLOS TÉCNICOS / METHODS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ANTIGEN HLA-B27 HISTOCOMPATIBILITY: FOUR TECHNICAL COMPARISONS OF PROTOCOLS / MÉTODOS PARA A IDENTIFICAÇÃO DO ANTIGÉNIO DE HISTOCOMPATIBILIDADE HLA-B27: CAMPARAÇAO DE QUATRO PROTOCOLOS TÉCNICOS

Introducción: La asociación del HLA-B27 y las Espondiloartritis, ha hecho evidente que la tipificación del HLA-B27 sea considerada como un apoyo en el diagnóstico de estas enfermedades. Los métodos más empleados para la determinación del antígeno HLA-B27 en los laboratorios clínicos y en investigación son: la microlinfocitotoxicidad (MCTX), la citometría de flujo digital (CMFd), la citometría de flujo análoga (CMFa) y la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con primers de secuencia específicos (PCR-SSP). Objetivo: Comparar MCTX con la CMFd, la CMFa con la CMFd, y la técnica de CMFd frente a PCR-SSP. Métodos: Se analizaron 4109 solicitudes de HLA-B27 en población con manifestaciones sugestivas de EAS remitidas entre 2009 y 2012 al Hospital Militar Central y al Instituto de Referencia Andino. Se evaluaron las frecuencias obtenidas por Chi cuadrado (X2); para estimar la concordancia metodológica se utilizó el Coeficiente de Correlación Intraclase (CCI). Los análisis se realizaron con el paquete estadístico SPSS V18. Resultados: Al evaluar 467 datos por la técnica de CMFa frente a PCR-SSP, la CMFa mostró 239 resultados entre positivos y en rango indeterminado, de los cuales, luego de ser confirmados PCRSSP, solo 213 demostraron la expresión de HLA-B27 (p<0.05). Se obtuvieron 208 resultados realizados por CMFd y PCR-SSP simultáneamente, observándose una alta correspondencia entre estas técnicas (p<0.05). Para evaluar la concordancia entre la MCTX y CMFd se analizaron 34 datos, revelando un 100% de correspondencia entre esta dos metodologías (CCI=1,p<0.05). Conclusión: La citometría de flujo digital es un método rápido que presenta un desempeño altamente confiable para la identificación de HLA-B27, resultados que se recomiendan confirmar por PCR SSP.

Introduction: The association between HLA-B27 and spondyloarthritis has made clear the fact that identification of HLA-B27 antigen is considered as a support in the diagnosis of these diseases. The most commonly used methods for determination of the HLA-B27 antigen in clinical laboratories as well as in their research, are microlymphocytotoxicity (MCTX), digital flow cytometry (CMFd), analogous flow cytometry (CMFa) and the Single Specific Primer-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCRSSP). Objective: compare the CMFd against MCTX, CMFa against CMFd and CMFd against PCR-SSP. Methods: 4109 requests for HLA-B27 were analyzed with manifestations suggestive of SpA submitted between 2009 and 2012 at Hospital Militar Central and Instituto de Referencia Andino. To analyze the frequencies Chi square (X2) was evaluated; to estimate the methodological concordance the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used. All proposed analyzes were performed with SPSS V18. Results: 467 data obtained by CMFa versus PCR-SSP evaluated the CMFA showed 239 results between positive and indeterminate range, which, after being confirmed by molecular biology (PCRSSP), only 213 showed the expression of HLA-B27 (p <0.05). PCR-SSP and CMFd performed 208 results simultaneously, showing a high correlation between these techniques (p <0.05). To evaluate the correlation between CMFd and MCTX, 34 data were analyzed, revealing a 100% match on the positive results from these two methodologies (ICC = 1, p <0.05). Conclusion: The digital flow cytometry is a rapid method that presents a highly reliable for the initial identification of HLA-B27; results confirmed by PCR SSP recommend performance.

Introdução: a associação do HLA-B27 e as Espondilartrite, evidenciou que a tipificação do HLAB27 seja considerada como um suporte no diagnóstico dessas doenças. Os métodos mais usados para a determinação do antígeno HLA-B27 nos laboratórios clínicos e no investigação são: a microlinphocitotoxicity (MCTX), a citometria de fluxo digital (CMFd), a citometria de fluxo análoga (CMFa) e a reação em cadeia de a polimerasa com primers de sequência específicos (PCR-SSP). Objetivo: Comparar MCTX com a CMFd, a CMFa com a CMFd, e a técnica de CMFd com PCRSSP. Métodos: 4109 solicitudes de HLA-B27 em população com manifestações sugestivas de EAS remitidas entre 2009 e 2012 ao Hospital Militar e ao Instituto de Referencia Andino, foram analisadas. Avaliaram-se as frequências obtidas por Chi quadrado (X2); para estimar a concordância metodológica foi utilizado o Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (CCI). Os análises estão feitos com o paquete estadístico SPSS V18. Resultados: A CMFa mostrou 239 resultados entre positivos e em rango indeterminado quando avaliou-se 467 dados com a técnica de CMFa com PCR-SSP. Só 213 deles demostraram a expressão de HLA-27 (p<0.05), depois de ser confirmados PCR-SSP. Foram obtidos 208 resultados por CMFd y PCR-SSP em simultâneo, com uma alta correspondência entre estas técnicas (p<0.05). Para avaliar a concordância entre MCTX y CMFd analisaram-se 34 dados, revelando um 100% de correspondência entre as duas metodologias (CCI=, p<0.05). Conclusão: A citometria de fluxo é um método rápido que tem um desempeno muito confiável para a identificação de HLA-B27, resultados recomendados para confirmar por PCR SSP.

Remodelación ósea en espondiloartritis / Bone remodeling in spondyloarthritis

Las espondiloartropatías (EAS) corresponden a un grupo de patologías inflamatorias crónicas caracterizadas por proliferación ósea que progresivamente conduce a anquilosis y discapacidad funcional. Las alteraciones radiológicas observadas en dichos pacientes revelan cambios erosivos y sobrecrecimiento de estructuras óseas conocidas como sindesmofitos. Teniendo en cuenta la entesis como órgano primario de la enfermedad, varios procesos tienen lugar en este sitio anatómico: inflamación, destrucción ósea y finalmente nueva formación ósea. El proceso inflamatorio tiene como resultado un exceso de formación ósea, y el impacto neto depende de la localización, tipo celular, citoquinas y factores presentes en el micro ambiente local. Varias moléculas que actúan ya sea como moduladores inmunológicos o reguladores de la homeostasis del hueso, han sido implicadas en la mediación del imbalance entre reabsorción y formación que finalmente resulta en degeneración a nivel de la zona de entesis y/o articular. Modelos animales sugieren que la anquilosis articular que puede llegar a producirse puede ser independiente del Factor de Necrosis Tumoral Alfa; por lo tanto, el proceso de neoformación tisular puede ser considerado un blanco terapéutico adicional. La vía de señalización Wnt, considerada el principal regulador de osteoblastogénesis (Familia de glicoproteína Wnt), teniendo en cuenta su papel en cuanto a regulación del imbalance entre formación y resorción ósea, ha constituido un nuevo campo de investigación de gran interés durante los últimos años.

Spondyloarthritis are a group of chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by progressive new bone formation leading to ankylosis and functional disability. The radiographic changes in these patients may show erosive changes and overgrowth of bony structures called syndesmophytes. Given the enthesis as the primary organ of the disease, several processes take place: inflammation, bone destruction and finally new bone formation. The inflammatory process results in excess of bone formation and the impact depends on the location, cell type, cytokines and factors in the local microenvironment. Several molecules that act either as immune modulators or regulators of bone homeostasis have been implicated in mediating the imbalance between resorption and formation that ultimately results in joint degeneration. Animal models suggest that joint ankylosis may be independent of TNF alfa; therefore the process of new tissue formation can be an additional therapeutic target. The Wnt signaling pathway, considered the primary regulator of osteoblastogenesis and its role in terms of regulating the imbalance between bone formation and resorption, is a new research field of great interest in recent years.