ANTINUCLEAR AND ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: ASSOCIATIONS WITH CLINICAL AND DEMOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Background: Neurological involvement is frequent in connective tissue diseases and in some cases may mimic multiple sclerosis. The role of autoantibodies, especially antiphospholipid antibodies, in the pathogenesis of neurological damage seem relevant. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of antiphospholipid and antinuclear antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their association with clinical features of MS and symptoms of the connective tissue diseases. Methods: The study group consisted of 85 patients (14 men, 71 women, mean age 38,5y.) with multiple sclerosis. 74 patients had clinically definite MS and 11 cases had clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The control group consisted of 30 healthy volunteers. The following clinical data were referred to the immunological findings: age at MS onset, duration of the disease, degree of disability assessed by EDSS, disability progression and exacerbation rate and the dominant symptoms of neurological involvement. Autoantibodies tested included antinuclear antibodies, anti-dsDNA antibodies, antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) and antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin and anti-beta 2 glucoprotein I (anti-b2GPI) antibodies). Results: Antinuclear antibodies were significantly more frequent in MS patients than in the controls (63,5% vs. 3,3%; p<0,01). In 13 patients (15%) antinuclear antibodies were identified as antibodies against specific extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). The frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies did not differ between MS and controls. On the contrary anti b2GP1 IgM were significantly more frequent in MS patients than in control group (20% vs. 3,3%; p=0,023). MS patients seropositive for ANA had significantly shorter disease duration than seronegative (7,5 vs. 11 years; p=0,012). Similar association was found for ENA antibodies – patients positive for ENA had significantly shorter disease duration (4.3 vs. 9.5 years; p=0,011). ANA positive patients had significantly lower disability score than (EDSS) than ANA negative patients – 2,95 vs. 3,95 (p< 0,05). Anti b2GPI antibodies were detected more often in patients with SPMS, and ENA antibodies were more frequent in patients with CIS (p<0,05). The presence of autoantibodies was not associated with the predominant site of neurological involvement nor the clinical features of connective tissue diseases. Conclusion: Antinuclear antibodies are frequent in patients with MS and are associated with shorter disease duration and lower EDSS. They are neither associated with the site of neurological involvement nor disease course. Anti b2GPI IgM antibodies were detected more often in MS than controls, mainly in patients with SPMS. Presence of autoantibodies was not correlated with any clinical features of connective tissue diseases Disclosure of Interest: None declaredCitation: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, volume 69, supplement 3, year 2010, page 665Session: Humoral aspects – autoantibodies (Abstracts accepted for publication )