Objective To investigate clinical significance of positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in diagnosis for vasculitis or other diseases. Methods From January 2005 to December 2008, 104 patients with positive ANCA detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in People's Hospital of Peking University were randomly selected and their clinical features and diagnoses were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among 104 ANCA-positive patients, 22 were diagnosed as vasculitis and 13 as ANCA-associated vasculitis, and 82 (78. 8% )were diagnosed as non-vasculitis including 40 of connective diseases such as systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 42 of non-connective diseases with the most common of ulcerative colitis. According to the results of ANCA tests by ELISA, ANCA-positive patients could be divided into those with proteinase 3 (PR3)-positive and myeloperoxideaso (MPO)-positive. More organs were involved in MPO-positive patients (n =48 ) than that in PR3-positive ones ( n = 49), and more frequent involvement of the kidneys and less frequent involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in MPO-positive than those in PR3-positive ones (P < 0. 01 ). As compared to those with non-vasculitis, more organs (2. 28 organs vs. 3.55 organs in average) were involved in patients with vasculitis (P <0. 01 ) and more frequent involvement of the upper or lower respiratory tracts and the kidneys in vasculitis patients ( P <0. 01 or <0. 05, respectively). Elevated leukocyte count and accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were also more common in vasculitis patients than those in non-vasculitis ones (P <0. 01 and P <0. 05, respectively). Positive ANCA combined with number of organs involved, clinical manifestations and other laboratory findings, its positive predictive value (PPV) in diagnosis for vasculitis can be improved. Conclusions Spectrum of disease in patients with positive ANCA was varied. Diagnostic value of positive ANCA in diagnosis for vasculitis can be improved if combined with comprehensive analysis of their clinical features and laboratory examinations.

Objective To assess the outcomes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection following immunosuppressant and corticosteroid treatment in patients with rheumatic disuses.Methods The medical records of patients with positive HBsAg and rheumatic diseases from 1 Jan 2004 to 31 Dec 2007 were retros pectively reviewed and analyzed for the types of rheumatic diseases,hepatitis B seroiogies,name and dosage of immunosuppressive agents used,anti-viral therapies and outcomes of CHB infection.Results Twenty one patients were included.There were 14 female and 7 male patients.The mean age of all patients was (45±16)years.All patients were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (HbcAb),and had alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than 60 U/L except one patient with dermatomyositis.Twelve(57%) patients treated with immunosuppressant only.Among them,rheumatoid arthritis (75%) was the most commonly diagnosed rheumatic diseases.These patients were treated with methotrexate (no more than 10 mg per week) or leflunomide ( 10 mg/d),combined with suffasalazine or hydroxychloroquine.Three patients received antivirus drugs because of the elevation of HBV-DNA.During the follow-up period (7 to 47 months with a median of 25 months),four (33%) developed ALT elevation,but none had developed HBV reactivation.Nine (43%) patients were treated with prednisolone and /or immunosuppressants.Among them,5 (56%)patients were diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus,others were adult onset of Still's disease and dermatomyositis,and 3 patients had elevation of HBV-DNA copies.These patients were treated with predni-soione (0.8～1.2 mg·kg-1·d-1) only or combined with immunosuppressants (methotrexate or cyclophosphamide),and all patients received antivirus drugs.During the follow-up period (3 to 50 months with a median of 13 months),two developed ALT elevation,but none had developed HBV reactivation.Conclusion In patients with rheumatic disease complicated with chronic HBV infection,methotrexate (no more than 10 mg per week) and leflunomide (10 rag/d) may be safe for patients with negative HBV-DNA.Prednisolone and immunosuppressants (methotrexate or cyclophosphamide) may be used safely with prophylactic antivims drugs.

This study was to identify the clinical features of myositis complicated with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS). A total of 202 patients with pSS were investigated. Myositis was diagnosed according to the clinical findings, muscle enzyme levels, electromyographic results, and muscle biopsy, and compared with 15 polymyositis (PM) patients. Myositis was identified in 4 of 202 pSS patients (2.0%). They developed myositis 5 to 20 years after the onset of SS. Two patients showed no myalgia and muscular weakness. Creative kinase (CK) was increased from 480 to 2702 IU/L. Anti-Jo-1 antibody was negative. All patients responded well to prednisone and had a median serum CK decrease by 48.9%. No patients had myositis recurrence. Compared with the PM group, the percentage of myalgia, peak of CK, descending rate of CK, and positive rate of anti-Jo-1 antibody were all significantly different. Myositis with Sj(o)gren's syndrome is not common, show relatively moderate symptoms, and respond well to prednisone.

Objective To better understand the clinical features and the diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods A case of MGUS with SLE were described including clinical manifestations and pathologic data.Literatures were also reviewed.Results The patient was admitted because of proteinuria.Laboratory findings showed monoclonal gammopathy.However,both bone marrow exam and iconography showed no signs of multiple myeloma.Lupus nephritis Ⅳ + Ⅴ was proved by kidney biopsy.Prednisone and tacrolimus were used with significant clinical improvement.Conclusion MGUS associated with SLE is not rare.MGUS criteria based on 2003 international MM working group should be used to differentiate MGUS from MM.Monoclonal protein level,plasma cell in bone marrow and free light chain are risk factors for MM progression.Treatment is based on lupus disease activity and organ damage severity.

Objective To analyze the clinical features of Weber-Christian disease (WCD) and to make a review of the literature for early diagnosis and treatment.Methods The clinical features of an atypical WCD patient who had been misdiagnosed as polymyositis were analyzed.Results WCD was characterized by subcutaneous nodules and systemic symptoms.Repeating physical examination and biopsy in time were important if the nodules were not obvious.Conclusion WCD is often misdiagnosed because of the complicated clinical manifestations.Carefully physical examination and timely biopsy are help for early diagnosis.

Objective To reduce the misdiagnosis rate of spondyloarthritis (SPA) by reviewing the rare cases misdiagnosed as SpA.Methods Cases misdiaguosed as SpA were collected from our hospital from January 2004 to April 2014.Reported cases among Chinese journals from January 1998 to October,2014 were also collected.According to the Assessment of Spondylo Arthritis international Society (ASAS) axial SpA criteria (2009) and peripheral SpA criteria (2011),the diagnostic accordance rate was studied.Results There were 112 cases within the objective scope,out of which,27 cases (24.1％) were infectious diseases,47 cases (42.0％) were heredity and metabolic diseases,25 cases (22.3％) were hematonosis or tumor,13 cases (11.6％) were osteoarthropathies.Also,only 10 cases (8.9％) out of 112 had the symptoms of inflammatory back pain (IBP),23 cases (20.5％) exhibited fever.Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 was positive in 20.4％ (21/103) of the cases.Eleven cases out of those 29 cases performed X-ray in the sacroiliac joint and showed blurred articular surface,narrowing of joint space or bone destruction.Four cases were diagnosed based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).18/91 (19.8％) cases met the criteria of ASAS axial SpA criteria (2009),2/6(33.3％) cases were in accordance to the ASAS peripheral SpA criteria (2011).Conclusion For patients with atypical back pain,if accompanied with fever,other diseases such as tumor,infection,heredity and metabolic diseases should be considered.The diagnosis should not only based on HLA-B27 for SpA diagnosis.Due to the ambiguity of X-ray in sacroiliac joint,CT or MRI may be recommended to assist the diagnosis.Careful clinical history taken is also with great significance.

Objective To detect antibodies against human papilloma virus-47 E2m345-362 peptide whichis homologous to profilaggri306324 peptide and anti-citrullinated human papilloma virus-47 E2345-362 peptide antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and to investigate its role in the pathogenesis of RA.Methods Serum samples were obtained from 119 patients with RA, other rheumatic diseases and healthy individuals.We searched the homologus sequence of profilaggrin306-324peptide by using NCBI (the National Center for Bioteehnology Information)BLAST (basic local alignment search tool),and synthesized human papilloma virus-47 E2345-362 peptide which was highly homologous to profilaggrin306-324 peptide and the citrullinated Human papilloma virus-47 E2345-362 peptide.The presence of antibodies against E2345-362 peptide and citrullinated E2345-362 peptide was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The associations between these antibodies and the clinical features of RA were evaluated.Results ①(41.2%)and titer (AU was 105.7)of anti citrullinated E2345-362 peptide antibodies in RA were significantly higher than those of patients with other rheumatic diseases and healthy individuals.However,the prevalence of anti-E2345-362 peptide antibodies in RA patients was similar to that of patients with other rheumatic diseases and healthy individuals(P>0.05).②The samples that were pre-incubated with cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) had lower titer of anti-citrulllinated E2345-362 peptide antibodies.③The titers of anti-CCP antibodies and anti-PAD14 antibodies in anti-citrullinated E2345-362 positive patients were higher than those of anti-citrullinated E2345-362 negtive patients.It showed significant correlations between anti-citrulllinated E2345-362 peptide antibodies and anti-PAD14 antibodies(r=0.485,P<0.01).④ DAS28 score,ESR,X-ray stages,AKA in anti-citrullinated E2345-362 positive patients were higher than those of anti-citrullinated E2345-362 negative patients.Conclusion The presence of anti-citrullinated E2345-362 peptide antibodies in RA indicates that HPV-47 E2 may act as an auto-antigen which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.The increasing of PAD14 may make it easy for HPV-47 E2 to be citrullinated and may induce the subsequent auto-immune reactions.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of mucosal administration of altered collagen Ⅱ(CⅡ)263-272 peptide(267Q→A,270K→A and 271G→A) on collagen induced arthritis(CIA),and to explore the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of the altered CⅡ263-272 peptide on CIA.Methods:CIA was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with bovine CⅡ.Altered CⅡ263-272 peptide was given intranasally beginning from the onset of arthritis(100 ?g/dose,daily for 5 doses and continuing every other day for other 7 doses).Wild CⅡ263-272 peptide(100 ?g/dose) or PBS was administered as controls with the same procedure.Therapeutic effects were evaluated by arthritis scores,body weight change,and joint pathologic scores.The anti-CⅡ antibody and its subtypes were measured with ELISA.The cytokines of IFN-? and IL-10 were measured with ELISA.The induction of regulatory T cells was assessed by FACS analysis of percentage of peripheral CD4+CD25+ T cells,and by real-time PCR analysis of the expression of Foxp3 and TGF-? mRNA.Results:(1) Following treatment with the altered CⅡ263-272 peptide,arthiritis scores were reduced and body weight was increased.The mean arthritis scores of rats treated with altered peptide,wild peptide and PBS were 2.50?2.43,4.50?2.23 and 6.33?2.73,respectively.The altered peptide could retard the histologic lesion of the joints.(2) The titers of anti-CⅡ antibodies IgG and IgG1 in the three groups were similar,but the IgG2a in altered peptide-treated rats decreased markedly as compared with PBS-treated rats(0.56?0.19 vs 0.95?0.29,P

Objective To evaluate the effect of 99m Tc-MDP on clinical and laboratory parameters in rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods The study was a prospective open cohort design.Clinical manifestations were recorded accordingly before and after 99m Tc-MDP intravenous infusion.Serum CRP,IL-1?,TNF-?and ESR were also measured.Results At the end point,morning stiffness,strength,index of joint tenderness,swelling,rest pain and physician assessment were all improved significantly(P

Objective To compare the pathological and serological difference of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) models in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice transplanted with synovial tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (SCID-HuRAg mice) established either by renal capsule or subcutaneous back heterotopic transplantation. Methods RA synovium and normal human cartilage were co-implanted subcutaneously into the backs or under the renal capsule of 15 SCID mice. Engrafted tissues and serum were taken at the 4th and 8th week after transplantation. Histopathology and ELISA were performed to compare their histological and serological differences with RA. Results The morbidity and taken rate were significantly increased in the subcutaneous back of the mice group than the renal capsule group. The degree of cartilage erosion as well as the titers of serum IgM type rheumatoid factor suggested no significant difference between the two groups of SCID-HuRAg model devel oped by different engraft methods. Conclusion Back subcutaneous transplantation SCID-HuRAg model can be an ideal and stable animal model for studies on the pathogenesis and biotherapy of RA.