Analysis of the impact of sex and age on the variation in the prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in Polish population: a nationwide observational, cross-sectional study

The detection of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) is dependent on many factors and varies between the populations. The aim of the study was first to assess the prevalence of ANA in the Polish adult population depending on age, sex and the cutoff threshold used for the results obtained. Second, we estimated the occurrence of individual types of ANA-staining patterns. We tested 1731 patient samples using commercially available IIFA using two cutoff thresholds of 1:100 and 1:160. We found ANA in 260 participants (15.0%), but the percentage of positive results strongly depended on the cutoff level. For a cutoff threshold 1:100, the positive population was 19.5% and for the 1:160 cutoff threshold, it was 11.7%. The most prevalent ANA-staining pattern was AC-2 Dense Fine speckled (50%), followed by AC-21 Reticular/AMA (14.38%) ANA more common in women (72%); 64% of ANA-positive patients were over 50 years of age. ANA prevalence in the Polish population is at a level observed in other highly developed countries and is more prevalent in women and elderly individuals. To reduce the number of positive results released, we suggest that Polish laboratories should set 1:160 as the cutoff threshold

Пневмонія при пологах як маска післяпологової кардіоміопатії у 28-річної пацієнтки в ранньому післяпологовому періоді

The article described a rare clinical case of perinatal cardiomyopathy as a form of dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology.Perinatal cardiomyopathy was diagnosed on the eighth day after delivery in a patient with fever and diagnosis of generalized infection (pneumonia) that masked the symptoms of heart disease. Signs of cardiomyopathy were confirmed by the ehocardiographic study on the ninth day after the delivery.The patient was hospitalized, perinatal cardiomyopathy and pneumonia were treated, resulting in the patient’s condition improved, and there was complete resolution of pneumonia and normalization of laboratory values. В статье описан редкий клинический случай перинатальной кардиомиопатии как формы дилатационной кардиомиопатии с неизвестной этиологией.Перинатальная кардиомиопатия была диагностирована на восьмые сутки после родов у пациентки с лихорадкой и диагнозом общей инфекции (пневмонии), что маскировало симптомы болезни сердца. Эхокардиографическое исследование, проведенное на девятые сутки после родов, подтвердило признаки кардиомиопатии.Больная находилась в стационаре, где проводилось лечение перинатальной кардиомиопатии и пневмонии, в результате чего ее состояние улучшилось и произошло полное разрешение пневмонии и нормализация лабораторных показателей. В статье описан редкий клинический случай перинатальной кардиомиопатии как формы дилатационной кардиомиопатии с неизвестной этиологией.Перинатальная кардиомиопатия была диагностирована на восьмые сутки после родов у пациентки с лихорадкой и диагнозом общей инфекции (пневмонии), что маскировало симптомы болезни сердца. Эхокардиографическое исследование, проведенное на девятые сутки после родов, подтвердило признаки кардиомиопатии.Больная находилась в стационаре, где проводилось лечение перинатальной кардиомиопатии и пневмонии, в результате чего ее состояние улучшилось и произошло полное разрешение пневмонии и нормализация лабораторных показателей.

Relationship Between Anti-DFS70 Autoantibodies and Oxidative Stress

Background: The anti-DFS70 autoantibodies are one of the most commonly and widely described agent of unknown clinical significance, frequently detected in healthy individuals. It is not known whether the DFS70 autoantibodies are protective or pathogenic. One of the factors suspected of inducing the formation of anti-DFS70 antibodies is increased oxidative stress. We evaluated the coexistence of anti-DFS70 antibodies with selected markers of oxidative stress and investigated whether these antibodies could be considered as indirect markers of oxidative stress. Methods: The intensity of oxidative stress was measured in all samples via indices of free-radical damage to lipids and proteins such as total oxidant status (TOS), concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (LPH), lipofuscin (LPS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The parameters of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, such as total antioxidant status (TAS) and uric acid concentration (UA), were also measured, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Based on TOS and TAS values, the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. All samples were also tested with indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and 357 samples were selected for direct monospecific anti DFS70 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing. Results:: The anti-DFS70 antibodies were confirmed by ELISA test in 21.29% of samples. Compared with anti-DFS70 negative samples we observed 23% lower concentration of LPH (P = .038) and 11% lower concentration of UA (P = .005). TOS was 20% lower (P = .014). The activity of SOD was up to 5% higher (P = .037). The Pearson correlation showed weak negative correlation for LPH, UA, and TOS and a weak positive correlation for SOD activity. Conclusion: In samples positive for the anti-DFS70 antibody a decreased level of oxidative stress was observed, especially in the case of samples with a high antibody titer. Anti-DFS70 antibodies can be considered as an indirect marker of reduced oxidative stress or a marker indicating the recent intensification of antioxidant processes