Introduction:

The interpretation of the various antibodies linked to systemic autoimmune diseases is a clinical challenge. Among the specific antibodies, anti Ro are the most frequent. They are associated with a clinical phenotype, related to both diverse clinical manifestations and established SAD.

Methodology:

descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study carried out at the Maciel Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Results:

70 patients were enrolled, most of them female. 60 patients (85%) presented Ro52, 40 (57%) Ro60 and 31 (44%) both antibodies. Of the total number of patients who had positive Ro in 59 (93%) clinical manifestations were evidenced. The most frequent were: photosensitivity 26 (42%); Raynaud 18 (30%); Xerostomia 26 (42%), Xerophthalmia 25 (41%), interstitial lung disease 10 (15%), nephropathy 20 (32%), and hematological manifestations 16 (23%). In 59 cases (86%) an autoimmune disease was diagnosed. The most frequent were: Sjögrens syndrome 26 (41%), systemic lupus erythematosus 26 (41%), rheumatoid arthritis 14 (22%), systemic sclerosis 10 (16%), autoimmune liver diseases 10 (14%). Other positive autoantibodies were found in 68 (97%) of the cases. ANA was positive in 67 patients (95%). The proportion of patients with positive Ro60 was significantly higher in patients with photosensitivity (p: 0.006), acute cutaneous lupus (p: 0.003), joint manifestations (p: 0.031), and nephropathy (p: 0.016). The positivity of both Ro52/60 was significantly higher in patients with muscular manifestations (p 0.028) and nephropathy (p 0.047). Regarding the type of autoimmune disease, there was a significant proportion of patients with Ro60 and SLE (p 0.004), as well as both antibodies and SE (p 0.04). There was a higher proportion of patients with Ro60 and anti SCL 70 (p 0.008) than those who did not, the same happens with Ro60 and RF (p 0.018); and Ro 52/60 with anti La (p 0.049) and anti SCL 70 (p 0.027).

Conclusions:

Ro52/60 specific antibodies are frequent, predominating Ro52. Most of the patients who present positivity have an underlying autoimmune disease, which is also observed in patients with oncological pathology. Knowing their associations is of the utmost importance given that they present a diagnostic and prognostic role, and help to predict the clinical phenotype.

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