Differences in autoimmunity factors based on the activity of thromboangiitis obliterans

The treatment of Buerger's disease (BD) presents a medical problem as its etiology is still unclear. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the serum levels of autoimmune markers in patients with different clinical features of BD.

In this study, 80 BD patients were categorized in three groups using a cross-sectional design: migratory thrombophlebitis, cold sensitivity, and skin discoloration (mild symptoms); chronic ulcers, claudication, and burning pain of the feet at night (moderate symptoms); pain at rest and spontaneous gangrene (severe symptoms). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure antibodies against immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor (IgM RF), anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACLA), anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) profile.

Patients with severe symptoms showed the lowest age (p=0.031), ESR (p<0.001), and highest prevalence of ischemia (p<0.001). In all the patients, the serum levels of ANA and IgM RF were higher than 1 U and 15 IU/mL, respectively. However, the progression of the disease from mild to moderate did not affect these markers significantly (p>0.05). Other markers were negative in patients with BD.

The findings of this study indicate that BD may closely be correlated to transient autoimmune phenomena, despite the fact that further research is required to investigate how transient unspecific autoimmune reactions contribute to the BD pathogenesis.