About 10% ~ 40% of patient with Marie-Strumpell ankylosing spondylitis have anterior uveitis. Recently, relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and anterior uveitis was discoverd by several studies of HLA-B27 antigen. Ankylosing spondylitis was found to be the commonest single etiological factor in analysis of 653 cases of uveitis seen in the Uveitis Clinic in United Kingdom. Ankylosing spondylitis is mostly found in male and most of their natures of uveitis are acute unilateral nongranulomatous anterior uveal involvement. Roentgenological findings of ankylosing spondylitis are characteristic demineralization and subchondral sclerosis of sacro-iliac joint and "Bamboo spine". Elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in ankylosing spondylitis indicates active status of the disease. Authors have experienced 2 cases of anterior uveitis with Marie-Strumpell ankylosing spondylitis in our clinic. These cases have shown typical findings of "Bamboo spine", sacro iliac joint blurring and acute nongranulomatous unilateral uveal involvement.
Blood Sedimentation ; Great Britain ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Sclerosis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior*

BACKGROUND: Flow cytometry (FC) HLA-B27 typing is still used extensively for the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathies. If patient blood samples are stored for a prolonged duration, this testing can be performed in a batch manner, and in-house cellular controls could easily be procured. In this study, we investigated various methods of storing patient blood samples. METHODS: We compared four storage methods: three methods of analyzing lymphocytes (whole blood stored at room temperature, frozen mononuclear cells, and frozen white blood cells [WBCs] after lysing red blood cells [RBCs]), and one method using frozen platelets (FPLT). We used three ratios associated with mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) for HLAB27 assignment: the B27 MFI ratio (sample/control) for HLA-B27 fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC); the B7 MFI ratio for HLA-B7 phycoerythrin (PE); and the ratio of these two ratios, B7/B27 ratio. RESULTS: Comparing the B27 MFI ratios of each storage method for the HLA-B27+ samples and the B7/B27 ratios for the HLA-B7+ samples revealed that FPLT was the best of the four methods. FPLT had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.3% for HLA-B27 assignment in DNA-typed samples (N=164) when the two criteria, namely, B27 MFI ratio >4.0 and B7/B27 ratio <1.5, were used. CONCLUSIONS: The FPLT method was found to offer a simple, economical, and accurate method of FC HLA-B27 typing by using stored patient samples. If stored samples are used, this method has the potential to replace the standard FC typing method when used in combination with a complementary DNA-based method.
Blood Platelets/metabolism ; Erythrocytes/metabolism ; *Flow Cytometry ; Freezing ; HLA-B27 Antigen/*blood ; HLA-B7 Antigen/blood ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spondylarthropathies/diagnosis ; Temperature

BACKGROUND: Flow cytometry (FC) HLA-B27 typing is still used extensively for the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathies. If patient blood samples are stored for a prolonged duration, this testing can be performed in a batch manner, and in-house cellular controls could easily be procured. In this study, we investigated various methods of storing patient blood samples. METHODS: We compared four storage methods: three methods of analyzing lymphocytes (whole blood stored at room temperature, frozen mononuclear cells, and frozen white blood cells [WBCs] after lysing red blood cells [RBCs]), and one method using frozen platelets (FPLT). We used three ratios associated with mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) for HLAB27 assignment: the B27 MFI ratio (sample/control) for HLA-B27 fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC); the B7 MFI ratio for HLA-B7 phycoerythrin (PE); and the ratio of these two ratios, B7/B27 ratio. RESULTS: Comparing the B27 MFI ratios of each storage method for the HLA-B27+ samples and the B7/B27 ratios for the HLA-B7+ samples revealed that FPLT was the best of the four methods. FPLT had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.3% for HLA-B27 assignment in DNA-typed samples (N=164) when the two criteria, namely, B27 MFI ratio >4.0 and B7/B27 ratio <1.5, were used. CONCLUSIONS: The FPLT method was found to offer a simple, economical, and accurate method of FC HLA-B27 typing by using stored patient samples. If stored samples are used, this method has the potential to replace the standard FC typing method when used in combination with a complementary DNA-based method.
Blood Platelets/metabolism ; Erythrocytes/metabolism ; *Flow Cytometry ; Freezing ; HLA-B27 Antigen/*blood ; HLA-B7 Antigen/blood ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spondylarthropathies/diagnosis ; Temperature

BACKGROUND: Commercial kits of PCR method are widely used in HLA-B27 typing; however, their cost is relatively high. In this study, we evaluated the utility of an in-house PCR method by comparing it with that of a commercial kit. METHODS: HLA-B27 typing was done in 188 patients by using two PCR methods, Absolute(TM) HLAB27 PCR kit (Biosewoom, Korea) and an in-house PCR method. The primers used in the in-house method were prepared by Bioneer (Korea). Both PCR tests were done by Gene Amp PCR System 9600 (Perkin-Elmer Centus Corp., USA). RESULTS: The commercial kit and in-house PCR showed 100% concordance rate with each other in HLA-B27 typing. Of 188 patients tested 72 (38.3%) were positive and 116 (61.7%) were negative by the both tests. Of 62 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, 50 were positive (80.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The in-house PCR is a reliable and cost-effective method and can replace or supplement commercial kits for HLA-B27 typing.
Adult ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen/blood/*genetics ; Histocompatibility Testing/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: HLA-B27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and its subtypes differ in their ethnic distribution. Studies worldwide have shown that B*2701, B*2702, B*2704, B*2705, B*2707, B*2708, B*2714, B*2715, and B*2719 are AS-predisposing subtypes, whereas B*2706 and B*2709 are reported to be negatively associated with AS. The aim of this study was to investigate HLA-B27 polymorphism and clinical features according to subtypes in Korean patients with AS. METHODS: Two hundred thirty samples from patients with impression of AS were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction using a sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) method. Pel-Freez SSP Unitray HLA-B*27 kit (Dynal Biotech, USA) including 16 primers was used to define HLA-B27 subtypes from B*2701 to B*2735. RESULTS: Among 230 samples from patients with impression of AS, 171 were HLA-B27 positive, and among 160 patients diagnosed as AS, 154 (96.3%) were HLA-B27 positive, while 17 patients not diagnosed as AS were HLA-B27 positive. Among 154 HLA-B27 positive patients with AS, 142 (92.2%) were typed as B*2705 and 9 (5.8%) were typed as B*2704. Three cases (1.9%) could be interpreted only variously because of their HLA-B27 homogeneous alleles. Between B*2705 and B*2704, no specific HLA-B27 subtype appeared to contribute to AS susceptibility (P=0.60). Difference in clinical features between B*2705 and B*2704 could not be found in this study (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study verified that HLA-B27 (96.3%) is strongly associated with AS and identified that the major subtypes of HLA-B27 positive patients with AS in Korea are B*2705 (92.2%) and B*2704 (5.8%).
Adult ; Alleles ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; HLA-B27 Antigen/blood/*genetics ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*diagnosis/epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, is effective in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who have not responded to conventional therapy. There were no data on the efficacy and side effect of infliximab in patients with AS in Korea. The objective of this study is to observe the efficacy and adverse effect of infliximab retrospectively in Korean patients with AS. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of thirty-three AS patients. The patients were enrolled to fulfill the modified New York criteria of AS and be in active disease state and resist to conventional therapy. Patients were given 3~5 mg/kg of infliximab infusions at weeks 0, 2, 8 and 16. Information on C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and antinuclear antibody (ANA) test was collected at each infusion. The paired t-test was used for comparison between the visits. RESULTS: There were 29 male and 4 female patients. The mean age at first infliximab treatment was 34.6+/-9.8 years. All patients were HLA-B27 positive. ESR and CRP decreased significantly from baseline to 16 weeks after treatment (p<0.001, respectively). The mean ESR was 76.1+/-36.5 mm/h at baseline and 21.3+/-31.6 mm/h at 16 weeks. The mean CRP was 6.4+/-4.8 mg/dL at baseline and 1.3+/-2.1 mg/dL at 16 weeks. Only 1 out of 33 patients got worse. All patients were tested negative for ANA at baseline. After 16 weeks of therapy, the induction of ANA was observed in 8 patients, but no patients have lupus-like symptoms. CONCLUSION: Infliximab is an effective therapy with non-specific adverse effect in AS non-responsive to conventional therapy in Korea.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: To assess the disease course and prognostic factors in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 136 patients between 1990 and 2000. Patients were classified with respect to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria and prognostic factors were evaluated according to the different subtypes. Poor outcome measures were persistent disease, joint destruction and physical disability. RESULTS: There were 73 males and 63 females and the mean follow up period was 5 years (range 2~25). Predictors of persistent disease in the systemic onset type were polyarticular involvement, symmetric arthritis, and the presence of active systemic disease at 6 months. A poor outcome in the oligoarticular onset type correlated with polyarticular extension, joint erosion, chronic arthritis (duration>6 months), relapse, high antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers (>1:160), persistently high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP). Polyarticular extension was associated with chronic arthritis, involvement of small joints at disease onset, and positive HLA-B27. Predictors of persistent disease in the polyarticular type were chronic arthritis, relapse, and the presence of anemia at disease onset. The risk of joint destruction correlated with sex (female>male), polyarticular involvement, polyarticular extension, chronic arthritis, persistently high ESR or CRP, high ANA titers (>1:160), relapse, and positive rheumatoid factor. CONCLUSION: Factors predictive of severity in JIA were identified and prognosis was related more to the disease course than the onset type of JIA. So early diagnosis and more aggressive treatment of patients with poor prognostic features could improve functional outcome.
Anemia ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Male ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Rheumatology

This new classification system redefines the current paradigm of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), by focusing on the features of the disease at earlier stages. The new classification criteria of RA was devised to facilitate early diagnosis. They include the use of positive anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody test and the presence of the increased level of acute phase reactants such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and c-reactive protein. As compared to the old criteria in which only plain radiography was used to determine the joint damage, ultrasound can be regarded as a valuable tool for examining the extent of synovitis in the new criteria. In terms of SLE, immunologic criteria were intensified in the new classification criteria. They include hypocomplementemia as a single criterion and the presence of anti beta2GPI antibody is considered to meet the antiphopholipid antibody criterion. The new concept of neuropsychiatric lupus is applied as well. The most recent classification criteria for AS were provided by Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society. They cover the whole spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and peripheral SpA and use magnetic resonance imaging as an important tool to assess early sacroiliac changes. In addition, they emphasize the presence of HLA-B27 gene as an important criterion. In order to prevent the undesirable organ damages, it is crucial to diagnose rheumatic diseases at early stages according to these new classification criteria and to start an early aggressive treatment. The accurate diagnosis and early targeted therapies will contribute to the improved quality of life and increased overall survival of the patients with rheumatic diseases.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Early Diagnosis ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Quality of Life ; Rare Diseases ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Synovitis

Clustered occurrences of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in family have been noticed. We evaluated patients with AS confirmed by the modified New York criteria for familial history of AS (one or more first to third degree relatives). The clinical characteristics and the recurrence risks (number of AS patients/number of familial members) of the familial AS compared to sporadic AS were investigated. Out of a total of 204 AS patients, 38 patients (18.6%) reported that they had a familial history of AS. The recurrence risks in the familial AS patients for first, second and third degree family members were 14.5%, 5.2%, and 4.4% respectively. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (22.6+/-22.2 vs 35.4+/-34.4, P=0.029) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (1.24+/-1.7 vs 2.43+/-3.3, P=0.003) at diagnosis, body mass index (21.9+/-2.7 vs 23.7+/-3.3, P=0.002) and frequency of oligoarthritis (13.2% vs 33.7%, P=0.021) were significantly lower in the familial form. The presence of HLA-B27 (97.4% vs 83.1%, P=0.044) was significantly higher in familial AS. In conclusion, Korean familial AS patients show a lower frequency of oligoarthritis, lower BMI, lower ESR and CRP at diagnosis and higher presence of HLA-B27.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Arthritis, Juvenile/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Demography ; Family ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen/metabolism ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/*diagnosis