Related Experiment Videos
The antiperinuclear factor in spondylarthropathies
A Saraux1, V de Saint Pierre, D Baron
1Unit of Rheumatology, Brest University Medical School Hospital, France.
British Journal of Rheumatology
|October 1, 1995
Summary
The study found antiperinuclear factor (APF) in 26.8% of spondylarthropathy patients. APF presence did not correlate with clinical or radiological findings but may indicate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in some cases.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Spondylarthropathy encompasses a group of inflammatory diseases affecting the spine and joints.
- Antiperinuclear factor (APF) is an autoantibody associated with certain autoimmune conditions.
- The role of APF in spondylarthropathy requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of antiperinuclear factor (APF) in patients diagnosed with spondylarthropathy.
- To investigate the association between APF and clinical, radiological, and serological markers in spondylarthropathy patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for patients meeting European Spondylarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria.
- Analysis of serum samples from 123 spondylarthropathy patients for APF presence.
- Standard battery of tests including rheumatoid factor (RF) and antikeratin antibody (AKA) assessment.
Main Results:
- Antiperinuclear factor (APF) was detected in 33 out of 123 patients (26.8%) at a titre >= 1/80.
- No significant correlations were found between APF positivity and demographic, clinical, or radiological features.
- APF-positive patients showed a trend towards higher prevalence of rheumatoid factors (RF) and antikeratin antibody (AKA).
Conclusions:
- APF is present in a significant subset of spondylarthropathy patients.
- APF alone does not appear to be a reliable marker for specific clinical or radiological phenotypes in spondylarthropathy.
- APF may serve as an additional serological marker for identifying potential co-existing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in spondylarthropathy patients, particularly when RF is also positive.