Immunological Abnormalities in a Group of Patients with Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis and Prominent Vascular Disease

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Abstract
Antinuclear antibodies, circulating immune complexes, rheumatoid factors and anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in the sera of 17 patients affected by the limited cutaneous subset of systemic sclerosis and marked clinical evidence of ischaemic cutaneous lesions (fingertip ulcerations). This study was designed to evaluate the possible role of anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and other immunological disorders in the endothelial damage characteristic of the disease. ACL antibodies were found in 41% of the patients. With the exception of a significant connection with positive rheumatoid factor tests (RIA), no notable associations between anticardiolipin antibodies and antinuclear antibodies, circulating immune complexes (CIC), and other serological abnormalities were found. ACL antibodies did not significantly correlate with the presence of vascular lesions in our patients. However, a role of these antibodies in endothelial damage cannot be excluded, possibly in association with other serum factors such as immune complexes and antinuclear antibodies. A positive connection between the incidence of CIC and the severity of lung perfusion impairment was observed, and the previously reported relationship between anticentromere antibodies and calcinosis was indirectly confirmed.