Antikeratin antibodies in serum and synovial fluid show specificity for rheumatoid arthritis in a study of connective tissue diseases. Issue 7 (July 1985)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Youinou, P; Le Goff, P; Colaco, C B; Thivolet, J; Tater, D; Viac, J; Shipley, M
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 44:Issue 7(1985)
• Page Start: 450
• Page End: 454
• Publication Date: 1985-07
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.44.7.450
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Tests for antikeratin antibodies (AKA) were performed on 2152 disease-associated and control sera by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) on rat oesophagus substrate. The incidence of AKA was significantly raised in rheumatoid arthritis (37%) in comparison with systemic sclerosis (8%), psoriasis (7%), ankylosing spondylitis (6%), systemic lupus erythematosus (3%), and normal controls (2%). AKA were detected in synovial fluid obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (48%) but not from patients with other conditions. Further experiments on AKA-positive sera showed reactivity with stratum corneum of rabbit prepuce and lips. A specific rabbit antihuman keratin antiserum was shown, by IF and inhibition studies, to have a different specificity from that of spontaneous human AKA. AKA were associated with the presence of subcutaneous nodules in RA (p = 0.05), but not with Raynaud's phenomenon, Sjögren's syndrome, or HLA-DR4 positivity. Rheumatoid factor (RF) was not associated with AKA either in RA or in RF-positive disease controls.