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Translational Psychiatry Nov 2021Patients with autoimmune encephalitides, especially those with antibodies to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), often present with prominent psychosis and...
Patients with autoimmune encephalitides, especially those with antibodies to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), often present with prominent psychosis and respond well to immunotherapies. Although most patients progress to develop various neurological symptoms, it has been hypothesised that a subgroup of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) suffer from a forme fruste of autoimmune encephalitis. Without accurate identification, this immunotherapy-responsive subgroup may be denied disease-modifying treatments. Thirty studies addressing aspects of this hypothesis were identified in a systematic review. Amongst other shortcomings, 15/30 reported no control group and only 6/30 determined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) autoantibodies. To ourselves address these-and other-limitations, we investigated a prospectively ascertained clinically well-characterised cohort of 71 FEP patients without traditional neurological features, and 48 healthy controls. Serum and CSF were tested for autoantibodies against seven neuronal surface autoantigens using live cell-based assays. These identified 3/71 (4%) patient sera with weak binding to either contactin-associated protein-like 2, the NMDAR or glycine receptor versus no binding from 48 control samples (pā=ā0.28, Fisher's test). The three seropositive individuals showed no CSF autoantibodies and no differences from the autoantibody-negative patients in their clinical phenotypes, or across multiple parameters of peripheral and central inflammation. All individuals were negative for CSF NMDAR antibodies. In conclusion, formes frustes of autoimmune encephalitis are not prevalent among FEP patients admitted to psychiatric care. Our findings do not support screening for neuronal surface autoantibodies in unselected psychotic patients.
Topics: Autoantibodies; Humans; Neurons; Psychotic Disorders; Receptors, Glycine; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
PubMed: 34741015
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01701-3 -
Fertility and Sterility Dec 2020To investigate whether levothyroxine is associated with improved live birth and other benefits in women with thyroid autoimmunity. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether levothyroxine is associated with improved live birth and other benefits in women with thyroid autoimmunity.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
SETTING
Not applicable.
PATIENT(S)
Women positive for thyroid peroxidase antibody.
INTERVENTION(S)
MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched without any language restrictions. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
The primary outcome was the incidence of live birth, miscarriage, preterm birth, clinical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, neonatal admission, and birth weight. The summary measures were reported as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval.
RESULT(S)
Levothyroxine supplementation was not associated with an increased rate of live birth or a decreased risk of miscarriage. Results were similar in subgroup analyses of live birth by age, baseline thyrotropin, baseline thyroid peroxidase antibody, body mass index, and use of assisted conception. For live birth, the effect estimate lay within the futility boundary for RR of 20% and 15%, but at a 10% RR, the effect estimate lay between the futility boundary and the inferior boundary.
CONCLUSION(S)
High- to moderate-quality evidence demonstrated that the use of levothyroxine was not associated with improvements in clinical pregnancy outcomes among women positive for thyroid peroxidase antibody.
REGISTRATION NUMBER
PROSPERO CRD42019132976.
Topics: Adult; Autoantibodies; Autoantigens; Autoimmune Diseases; Biomarkers; Birth Weight; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Iodide Peroxidase; Iron-Binding Proteins; Live Birth; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Thyroid Diseases; Thyroxine
PubMed: 32912635
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.06.034 -
Journal of Microbiology, Immunology,... Jun 2021Autoimmune diseases are considered as one of the most important disorders of the immune system, in which the prolonged and chronic processes eliminate self-tolerance to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Helicobacter pylori infection and autoimmune diseases; Is there an association with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune atrophy gastritis and autoimmune pancreatitis? A systematic review and meta-analysis study.
Autoimmune diseases are considered as one of the most important disorders of the immune system, in which the prolonged and chronic processes eliminate self-tolerance to the auto-antigens. The prevalence of autoimmune diseases has been increasing worldwide in the recent years. According to the literature, biological processes such as the host genome, epigenetic events, environmental condition, drug consumption, and infectious agents are the most important risk factors that make the host susceptible to the development of autoimmune diseases. In the recent years, the role of Helicobacter pylori in the induction of autoimmune diseases has attracted extensive attention. Via molecular mimicry, epitope spreading, bystander activation, polyclonal activation, dysregulation in immune response, and highly immune-dominant virulence, such as cagA, H. pylori causes tissue damage, polarity, and proliferation of the host cells leading to the modulation of host immune responses. Moreover, given the large population worldwide infected with H. pylori, it seems likely that the bacterium may develop into autoimmune diseases through dysregulation of the immune response. The frequency and relationship between H. pylori infection and systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune atrophy gastritis, and autoimmune pancreatitis were evaluated using the data from 43 studies involving 5052 patients. According to statistical analysis it is probable that infection with more virulent strains of H. pylori (such as H. pylori cagA positive) can increase the risk of autoimmune diseases. In addition, it was shown that infection with H. pylori can prevent the development of atrophic gastritis by stimulating inflammation in the gastric antrum. However, future studies should confirm the validity of this study.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Autoimmune Diseases; Autoimmune Pancreatitis; Gastritis; Helicobacter Infections; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Risk Factors
PubMed: 32891538
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.08.011 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jul 2020Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. The present meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate thyroid... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. The present meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate thyroid dysfunction in Iranian pregnant women.
METHODS
We registered this review at PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020166655). The research steps in this systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the MOOSE protocol, and finally, reports were provided based on the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed in October 2019 using the international online databases, including Web of Science, Ovid, Science Direct, Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, CINAHL, Google Scholar as well as national databases were reviewed. Data were extracted after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria and qualitative evaluation of the studies. I index and Q test were used to assess differences in studies. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We identified 1261 potential articles from the databases, and 426 articles remained after removing the duplicate and unrelated studies. After evaluating the full text, 52 articles were removed.
RESULTS
Finally, 19 eligible studies including 17,670 pregnant women included for meta-analysis. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Iranian pregnant women was 18.10% (95%CI: 13.89-23.25). The prevalence of hypothyroidism, clinical hypothyroidism, and subclinical hypothyroidism in Iranian pregnant women was respectively estimated to be 13.01% (95%CI: 9.15-18.17), 1.35% (95%CI: 0.97-1.86) and 11.90% (95%CI: 7.40-18.57). The prevalence of hyperthyroidism, clinical hyperthyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism in Iranian pregnant women was respectively estimated to be 3.31% (95%CI: 1.62-6.61), 1.06% (95%CI: 0.61-1.84) and 2.56% (95%CI: 0.90-7.05). The prevalence of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody was estimated to be 11.68% (95%CI: 7.92-16.89).
CONCLUSION
The results of this meta-analysis showed a high prevalence of thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism. The decision to recommend thyroid screening during pregnancy for all women is still under debate, because the positive effects of treatment on pregnancy outcomes must be ensured. On the other hand, evidence about the effect of thyroid screening and treatment of thyroid disorders on pregnancy outcomes is still insufficient. Nevertheless, a large percentage of general practitioners, obstetricians and gynecologists perform screening procedures in Iran.
Topics: Adult; Autoantigens; Female; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Iodide Peroxidase; Iran; Iron-Binding Proteins; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Thyroid Diseases
PubMed: 32664874
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03040-5 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jan 2020Non-invasive criteria are needed for Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosis, with several biomarkers being tested. Results of individual diagnostic test accuracy studies... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Non-invasive criteria are needed for Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosis, with several biomarkers being tested. Results of individual diagnostic test accuracy studies assessing the diagnostic value of pancreatic autoantibodies-to-glycoprotein-2 (anti-GP2) tests for the diagnosis of CD appear promising.
AIM
To systematically review and meta-analyze evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of anti-GP2 tests in patients with suspected/confirmed CD.
METHODS
An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL and grey literature (CRD42019125947). The structured research question in PICPTR format was "Population" including patients with symptoms akin to CD, the "Index test" being anti-GP2 testing, the "Comparator" involved standard CD diagnosis, the "Purpose of test" being diagnostic, "Target disorder" was CD, and the "Reference standard" included standard clinical, radiological, endoscopical, and histological CD diagnostic criteria. Quality was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool and hierarchical models were employed to synthesize the data.
RESULTS
Out of 722 studies retrieved, 15 were meta-analyzed. Thirteen studies had industry-related conflicts-of-interest, and most included healthy donors as controls (spectrum bias). For the combination of IgA and/or IgG anti-GP2 test, the summary sensitivity was 20% (95% confidence interval: 10%-29%) at a median specificity of 97%. If the test was applied in 10000 suspected patients, 9669 would be true negatives and in 26, the diagnosis would be missed. In this hypothetical cohort, the anti-GP2 would fail to produce a diagnosis for 81.3% of the positive cases. Low summary points of sensitivity and high specificity were estimated for the IgG or IgA anti-GP2 test. Analogous results were observed when the analyses were restricted using specific cut-offs, or when ulcerative colitis patients were used as comparators.
CONCLUSION
Anti-GP2 tests demonstrate low sensitivity and high specificity. These results indicate that caution is required before relying on its diagnostic value. Additionally, the need for improving the methodology of diagnostic test accuracy studies is evident.
Topics: Autoantibodies; Autoantigens; Biomarkers; Crohn Disease; Humans; Membrane Glycoproteins; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 31988587
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i2.246 -
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism Apr 2020ImmunoglobulinG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized disease and, as such, there is a pressing need to identify biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring...
OBJECTIVE
ImmunoglobulinG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized disease and, as such, there is a pressing need to identify biomarkers for diagnosis, monitoring disease activity, and predicting prognosis and response to therapy. Here, we review the recent development and identification of biomarkers for IgG4-RD.
METHODS
Through extensive literature review and analysis, we updated the biomarkers for IgG4-RD and further put forward our own viewpoints.
RESULTS
In addition to traditional biomarkers, such as serum IgG4 concentration and typical histological characteristics, several novel indicators, including IgG2, serum soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL2R), and cc-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), indicate inflammation and fibrosis and can be used to accurately diagnose and predict treatment response. Studies to identify target autoantigens in IgG4-RD have shed light on the unmet need for biomarkers that can identify this disorder. Additionally, both serological and histopathologic immune cells involved in antigen-induced responses, innate immune cells (macrophages, mast cells, and the I-IFN/ IL-33 pathway), as well as subsequent acquired immune cells (T and B cell subsets), may also serve as new biomarkers for IgG4-RD. Since IgG4-RD often clinically manifests with multiple organs involvement, non-invasive PET-CT can improve diagnosis and antidiastole levels.
CONCLUSION
These novel biomarkers provide information to help diagnose IgG4-RD, monitor disease activity, as well as predict prognosis and response to therapy.
Topics: Biomarkers; Chemokines, CC; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease; Receptors, Interleukin-2
PubMed: 31280934
DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2019.06.018