Prevalence of antibodies against alpha-fodrin in Sjögren's syndrome: comparison of 2 sets of classification criteria.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of antibodies against alpha-fodrin in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) classified according to San Diego and European Community Study Group (ESG) criteria.


METHODS
The prevalence and mean concentrations of IgA and IgG autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin were determined and compared in patients with SS classified either according to San Diego criteria or to criteria of the ESG by ELISA.


RESULTS
IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin were detected in 88% and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in 64% and either of these antibodies in 93% of 85 patients classified according to San Diego criteria. Antibodies against Ro were present in 38% of these sera. IgA antibodies against alpha-fodrin were detected in 61%, IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin in 51%, and any of these antibodies in 73% of 51 patients classified according to the ESG criteria. The mean concentrations of both IgA and IgG antibodies against alpha-fodrin that seem to correlate with disease activity were higher in patients classified according to the San Diego criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies against alpha-fodrin are detectable in almost all sera obtained from patients with SS classified according to the San Diego criteria and are significantly more prevalent than antibodies against Ro. The lower prevalence of the autoantibodies in patients classified according to the ESG criteria reflects the lower specificity of these criteria for SS.
Witte
Torsten
T
Abteilung Klinische Immunologie, Medizinische Hochschule, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. witte.torsten@mh.hannover.de
Matthias
Torsten
T
Oppermann
Martina
M
Helmke
Klaus
K
Peter
Hans H
HH
Schmidt
Reinhold E
RE
Tishler
Moshe
M
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013049:Spectrin
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D013049:Spectrin; C035356:SS-A antibodies