Background The Ro/La system is considered as an heterogeneous antigenic complex, constituted by three different proteins (52 kDa Ro, 60 kDa Ro and La) and four small RNAs particles. Anti-Ro are the most prevalent specificity among many autoimmune diseases. There is controversy regarding the relation between the different subunits of Ro antibody and the appearance of certain clinical aspects both in patients with autoimmune diseases and in healthy people¹.

Objectives To analyse antiRo Ab subtypes of people with or without autoimmune diseases criteria and determine whether there is a relation with any type of involvement.

Methods We reviewed patients medical records who had more than one positive determination of anti-Ro, between 2010 and 2012 in the hospital of Merida, Spain. We collected data to support the existence of xerophthalmia and xerostomia, mucosal ulcers, Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), serositis, neurological involvement (polyneuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex and central involvement), nephritis and cutaneous lesions (SCLE, DLE, photosensitivity, malar rash and alopecia). We use Xi2 and, when necessary, Yates correction, to determine if there exist significative relation between the described pathologies and antibodies to 52 kDa Ro, 60 kDa Ro and La.

Results Data of the relation of each pathology with the anti Ro subunits are represented in Table 1. From the 131 patients, the frequency of antibodies was found: 11 anti-Ro52 Ab, 33 antiRo 60 Ab, 73 antiRo52/60 Ab, 14 patients with unknown pattern and 47 also had associated anti-La Ab. We found statistically significant in the following cases: Xerophthalmia and xerostomía with anti-La (p<0.01), mucosal ulcers with anti-La (p<0.05), ILD with antiRO52 (p<0.05), neuropathy anti-Ro52/60 (p<0.01) and antiLa (p<0.05); skin lesions with the abscence of anti-Ro52 (p<0.01) and the presence of anti-La (p<0.01). Of the 10 cases of ILD, three of them progressed to pulmonary fibrosis, all of them with antiRo 52, therefore with a relation statistically significant (p<0.01).

Conclusions We found that the anti-La Ab, was associated with sicca symptoms, mucosal ulcers, neuropathy and skin lesions. Ro52 subunit had a positive association with the occurrence of ILD and its progresion to fibrosis and negative association with skin lesions. Anti-Ro60 positivity was unrelated to any involvement. AntiRo52/60 positivity were associated with the onset of neurological symptoms. Studies bigger and with a larger sample of patients to confirm these results are needed.

1. Franceschini, F., & Cavazzana, I. Autoimmunity, 38(1), 55–63.

Disclosure of Interest None declared