Clinical Spectrum of TH/TO and NOR90 Autoantibodies in Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease with a large spectrum of clinical manifestations. Autoantibodies could indicate symptoms, diagnostics and establish a more appropriate treatment. The relevance of searching Th/To and NOR90 is still unknown. We aim to evaluate major manifestations and disease associations of Th/To and NOR90 autoantibodies.

Material and Methods: Observational retrospective single- centre study, including all patients with Th/To or NOR90 autoantibodies followed in autoimmune consultation from 2018 to 2020. Absence of specific clinical information excluded patients. Demographic, clinical and diagnostical data were analysed.

Results: In this study, female gender was the most prevalent. Cutaneous, articular, cardiopulmonary and gastrointestinal involvements were present in both autoantibodies’ groups, with no renal manifestations. In 40% of both groups, systemic sclerosis diagnosis was established. No other concomitant autoantibodies were documented in 53% and 50% of anti-Th/To and anti-NOR90, respectively.

Discussion and Conclusion: This study verified similar involvement in both groups with frequent skin and articular symptoms, more cardiopulmonary involvement in anti-Th/To group and more gastrointestinal association in anti-NOR90. Although, in this study, these autoantibodies were commonly related to systemic sclerosis, in approximately half of cases they were isolated with no other concomitant systemic sclerosis’ autoantibodies, enhancing the importance of their active research when this disease is suspected.