Evaluation of phosphatidylserine-dependent antiprothrombin antibody testing for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome: results of an international multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: A task force of scientists at the International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies recognized that phosphatidylserine-dependent antiprothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) might contribute to a better identification of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Accordingly, initial and replication retrospective, cross-sectional multicentre studies were conducted to ascertain the value of aPS/PT for APS diagnosis. METHODS: In the initial study (eight centres, seven countries), clinical/laboratory data were retrospectively collected. Serum/plasma samples were tested for IgG aPS/PT at Inova Diagnostics (Inova) using two ELISA kits. A replication study (five centres, five countries) was carried out afterwards. RESULTS: In the initial study (n = 247), a moderate agreement between the IgG aPS/PT Inova and MBL ELISA kits was observed (k = 0.598). IgG aPS/PT were more prevalent in APS patients (51%) than in those without (9%), OR 10.8, 95% CI (4.0-29.3), p < 0.0001. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratio of IgG aPS/PT for APS diagnosis were 51%, 91%, 5.9 and 0.5, respectively. In the replication study (n = 214), a moderate/substantial agreement between the IgG aPS/PT results obtained with both ELISA kits was observed (k = 0.630). IgG aPS/PT were more prevalent in APS patients (47%) than in those without (12%), OR 6.4, 95% CI (2.6-16), p < 0.0001. Sensitivity, specificity, LR + and LR- for APS diagnosis were 47%, 88%, 3.9 and 0.6, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: IgG aPS/PT detection is an easily performed laboratory parameter that might contribute to a better and more complete identification of patients with APS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

El rostro de la fe la confesión de la fe en Jesucristo expresada en el primitivo arte cristiano

Se propone plantear en este trabajo de grado el juego teológico que se da al comparar el rostro de Jesús que se encuentra en la vivencia de las primeras comunidades cristianas, tal y como lo recoge la Sagrada Escritura, con lo que plasmaron los integrantes de las mismas, en lo que hoy llamamos el primitivo arte cristiano o arte paleocristiano. La Teología no solo se fundamenta en la razón, sino también en la fe. La fe es una experiencia que atraviesa la historia, no es algo que aparece por generación espontánea en nuestra experiencia personal, sino algo que recibimos como testimonio y legado de generaciones anteriores que han tenido una experiencia de fe y que como nosotros, han descubierto un rostro de Dios y que, también como nosotros, han descubierto que una parte de su misión es contar y transmitir esa fe

Prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in Chilean patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Palomo, I.G.; Alarcon, M.; Sandoval, R.; Gonzalez, J.; Monsalves, F. Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunohematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Talca, Casilla N° 747, Talca, Chile.Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies found in patients with autoimmune diseases are also detected in those with inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of these antibodies in patients with rheumatoi