ASSESSMENT OF ANTIENDOTHELIAL CELL ANTIBODIES IN SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS AND SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Objectives-Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) have been detected in 19 to 30% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objective of this study was first to assess the role of a secondary Sjogren's sy ndrome (SS) in the occurrence of AECA in SSc. Secondly, we researched AECA in patients with primary SS, and investigated whether AECA were a ssociated with vascular manifestations (Raynaud's phenomenon and vascu litis). Methods-IgG-AECA were tested by an ELISA method in serum sampl es from 50 patients with SSc (16 of them had also a secondary SS), 50 patients with primary SS, and 50 healthy controls. Results-AECA levels were significantly higher in patients with SSc or primary SS than in healthy controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). In patients wi th SSc, AECA values were significantly higher in patients with seconda ry SS (p < 10(-5)). In. patients with primary SS, AECA levels were sig nificantly higher in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (p < 0.01), bu t not in patients with vasculitis. Conclusion-In patients with SSc, AE CA are associated with a secondary SS. In patients with primary SS, AE CA are associated with Raynaud's phenomenon, but not with vasculitis.