To evaluate the data obtained from the external quality assurance program initiated by Chinese Rheumatism Data Center (CRDC-QAP) for autoantibodies detection in 2021, so as to assess the consensus and differences in cross-laboratory testing to autoantibodies in China. This is a retrospective study. After collecting data from the first half year (from May 15th to July 10th) and the second half year (from August 15th to November 19th) of CRDC-QAP program for autoantibody detection in 2021, it firstly analyzed the qualitative consensus of the cross-laboratory results. Secondly, it compared the positivity grade of numeric results according to the Sample to cut-off ratio (S/CO ratio) calculation. Finally, the mean and coefficient variation (CV) of numeric results from three major manufacturers were calculated. A total of 303 and 332 clinical labs voluntarily participated in the first half year and the second half year of CRDC-QAP program for autoantibody detection in 2021, respectively. Except for anti-β2 glycoprotein type I (aβ2-GPI) IgM, the cross-laboratory consensus of qualitative results for the other autoantibodies is greater than 96%. As for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) and anti mitochondrial antibody-M2 (AMA-M2), the numeric results from more than 90% laboratories showed the same positivity grade. More than 50% of laboratories used chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for quantitative evaluation of autoantibody. The CV of numeric results from different manufacturers showed certain differences(P<0.01) with the range from 0 to 238%. Although high consensus can be observed in term of qualitative result for autoantibody detection in cross-laboratory, there are still certain differences in numeric results in term of positivity grade and manufacturer-based CV.
Humans ; Autoantibodies ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin/analysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; East Asian People ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I ; Rheumatic Diseases

Primary antiphopholipid syndrome (APS) is a disease producing vascular thrombus with antiphospholipid antibody without association with autoimmune diseases as systemic lupus erythematosus. Retinal vein occlusion is a rare vascular manifestation in primary APS. We describe 2 cases of primary APS presenting with developing blurred vision. Each had central retinal vein occlusion and high titer of IgG anticardiolipin antibody.
Adult ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin/analysis ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/*complications/immunology ; Case Report ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/*etiology/immunology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for the early diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). METHODS: Magnetic resonance image (MRI) and 1H-MRS were performed on fifteen normal volunteers (mean age, 29+/-6 years; age range, 24~40 years) and twenty seven patients with SLE: twelve (26+/-8 years; 16~42 years) with and fifteen (32+/-12 years; 13~57 years) without NPSLE. The localized 1H-MRS was performed by a GE 1.5T SIGNA MRI/MRS system (version 5.5) with active shielded gradients. For all spectra, a Stimulated Echo Acquisition Method (STEAM) localization sequence with three-pulse CHESS H2O suppression was used. The metabolite ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) to Cr measured on 1H-MRS of the basal ganglia (BG) and peritrigonal periventricular white matter (PWM). RESULTS: The level of disease activity makers (anti-dsDNA, C3, C4, SLEDAI score), autoantibodies (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody, antiribosomal-P), and EEG did not showed significant difference between the patients without NPSLE and with NPSLE (p>0.05). Thirteen percent (2/15) of patients without NPSLE and fifty percent (6/12) of patient with the NPSLE showed abnormality in MRI. 1H-MRS showed significantly decreased NAA/Cr ratio in BG and increased Cho/Cr ratio in PWM for the patients with NPSLE compared to the patients without NPSLE and normal volunteers (p<0.05). No correlation was shown between the maker of disease activity and NAA/Cr in BG or Cho/Cr ratio in PWM in the SLE group (p>0.05). But negative correlation was shown between NAA/Cr in BG and Cho/Cr ratio in PWM (r=-0.58, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: NAA/Cr ratio in BG was decreased and Cho/Cr in PWM was increased in NPSLE. The neurometabolite ratio measured by 1H-MRS may be useful in the early detection of NPSLE.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Autoantibodies ; Basal Ganglia ; Choline ; Creatine ; Early Diagnosis* ; Electroencephalography ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spectrum Analysis*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for the early diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). METHODS: Magnetic resonance image (MRI) and 1H-MRS were performed on fifteen normal volunteers (mean age, 29+/-6 years; age range, 24~40 years) and twenty seven patients with SLE: twelve (26+/-8 years; 16~42 years) with and fifteen (32+/-12 years; 13~57 years) without NPSLE. The localized 1H-MRS was performed by a GE 1.5T SIGNA MRI/MRS system (version 5.5) with active shielded gradients. For all spectra, a Stimulated Echo Acquisition Method (STEAM) localization sequence with three-pulse CHESS H2O suppression was used. The metabolite ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) to Cr measured on 1H-MRS of the basal ganglia (BG) and peritrigonal periventricular white matter (PWM). RESULTS: The level of disease activity makers (anti-dsDNA, C3, C4, SLEDAI score), autoantibodies (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody, antiribosomal-P), and EEG did not showed significant difference between the patients without NPSLE and with NPSLE (p>0.05). Thirteen percent (2/15) of patients without NPSLE and fifty percent (6/12) of patient with the NPSLE showed abnormality in MRI. 1H-MRS showed significantly decreased NAA/Cr ratio in BG and increased Cho/Cr ratio in PWM for the patients with NPSLE compared to the patients without NPSLE and normal volunteers (p<0.05). No correlation was shown between the maker of disease activity and NAA/Cr in BG or Cho/Cr ratio in PWM in the SLE group (p>0.05). But negative correlation was shown between NAA/Cr in BG and Cho/Cr ratio in PWM (r=-0.58, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: NAA/Cr ratio in BG was decreased and Cho/Cr in PWM was increased in NPSLE. The neurometabolite ratio measured by 1H-MRS may be useful in the early detection of NPSLE.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Autoantibodies ; Basal Ganglia ; Choline ; Creatine ; Early Diagnosis* ; Electroencephalography ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spectrum Analysis*

BACKGROUND: The presence of lupus anticoagulants (LA) is a strong risk factor for thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome. We investigated the usefulness of addition of silica clotting time (SCT) to the pre-existing dilute Russell's viper venom test (dRVVT) for detection of LA. Also, we analyzed differences in the thrombotic features and the characteristics of antiphospholipid antibodies between dRVVT and SCT. METHODS: A total of 167 patients positive for LA or anti-cardiolipin (anti-CL) antibody and 76 healthy controls were enrolled. The dRVVT and SCT were used for detection of LA. Anti-CL, anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (anti-beta2 GPI) and anti-prothrombin (anti-PT) antibodies were measured using commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS: In detection of thrombosis, the sensitivity of the combined test of SCT and dRVVT was 56.4%, which was higher than that of dRVVT alone (46.2%) or SCT alone (23.1%). The specificity of the combined test (80.9%) was comparable to that of dRVVT (81.9%). Also, odds ratio for predicting thrombosis was higher in the combined test than in dRVVT or SCT alone. When normalized LA ratio of the two tests was compared, the group of patients with higher ratio of SCT showed significantly higher prevalence of recurrent abortion and higher positivity of IgG types of anti-CL, anti-beta2 GPI and anti-PT than the group with higher ratio of dRVVT. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of SCT to dRVVT can improve the detection sensitivity of thrombosis in LA test. And the high normalized LA ratio of SCT may be a useful parameter for detection of recurrent abortion.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin/analysis ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/analysis ; Blood Coagulation Tests/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis ; Immunoglobulin M/analysis ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prothrombin/immunology ; Prothrombin Time/methods ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Silicon Dioxide/*chemistry ; Thrombosis/diagnosis ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I/immunology

Thromboembolic events are reported to occur with a high frequency in the setting of malignancy. However, reports on an association between cholangiocarcinoma and pulmonary thromboembolism, thus far, are almost lacking. We present here an unusual case of a 56-yr-old patient presenting cholangiocarcinoma and unexplained pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient had been quite healthy before the diagnosis. Coagulation tests showed elevated levels of fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), D-dimer, and IgM anticardiolipin antibody (aCL Ab). The thromboemboli were resolved 3 weeks after anticoagulant therapy using lowmolecular-weight-heparin. Then, follow-up coagulation tests showed a marked decrease to normal in aCL Ab titer as well as the normalization of FDP and D-dimer levels. In this case, we describe pulmonary thromboembolism caused by hypercoagulable state associated with cholangiocarcinoma and speculate that such a thrombotic phenomenon could be regressed by anticoagulant therapy.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin/blood ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*complications ; *Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Blood Coagulation Factors/analysis ; Cholangiocarcinoma/*complications ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products/analysis ; Fibrinogen/analysis ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism/*blood/drug therapy/etiology ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome