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Reports by O. Krystufkova and co-researchers describe recent advances in dermatomyositis
2009 JUL 27 - (NewsRx.com) -- In this recent report, researchers in Prague, Czech Republic conducted a study "To investigate serum levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF) in patients with myositis and correlate these to autoantibody profile, clinical phenotype and treatment. BAFF levels in sera from 49 patients with dermatomyositis, 44 with polymyositis, 6 with inclusion body myositis and 30 matched controls were measured by ELISA." "Specific autoantibodies were detected by line blot and western blot assays. Serum levels of BAFF were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.003). with anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies had higher BAFF levels than control individuals (p < 0.003) or patients without any specific autoantibodies (p < 0.05). with dermatomyositis had higher BAFF levels compared to polymyositis (p < 0.05). with interstitial lung disease (ILD) had higher BAFF levels than patients without ILD (p < 0.05) or controls (p < 0.01) but this could be explained by presence of anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies. BAFF levels correlated with serum creatine kinase (CK) (rs = 0.365, p = 0.0005) but not with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. A negative correlation of BAFF levels with glucocorticoid daily dose for all patients (rs = 20.292, p= 0.003) and with cumulative glucocorticoid doses in early myositis cases (rs = 20.659, p< 0.001) was recorded," wrote O. Krystufkova and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Our finding of elevated serum levels of BAFF in patients with myositis with described phenotypes together with the correlations between levels of BAFF and CK and a negative correlation with dose of glucocorticoids, indicate that BAFF could be a potential therapeutic target in such cases." Krystufkova and colleagues published their study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (Increased serum levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF) in subsets of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2009;68(6):836-843). For additional information, contact O. Krystufkova, Institute Rheumatol, Slupi 4, Prague 12000 2, Czech Republic. Publisher contact information for the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England. Keywords: Czech Republic, Prague, Dermatomyositis, Immunology, Inclusion Body Myositis, Interstitial Lung Disease, Muscular Disease, Myositis, Polymyositis, Rheumatic Disease, Rheumatology. This article was prepared by Respiratory Therapeutics Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Respiratory Therapeutics Week via NewsRx.com.
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