BERLIN — Clonal T-cell populations may play a key role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.
Expanded populations of clonal T cells were detected by high-resolution capillary electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood of 61% of 126 patients with systemic sclerosis, Dr. Alexander Kreuter said at the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
Expanded clonal T cells were common in the setting of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis: They were detected with high-resolution capillary electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction testing in 48 of 65 (74%) affected patients, vs. 29 of 61 (48%) with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, said Dr. Kreuter of Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany. The likelihood that these circulating clonal T-cell populations are involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis is enhanced by the finding that a clonal T-cell population was detected in the peripheral circulation of only 4 of 29 (14%) healthy controls, he added.
Twenty of 44 systemic sclerosis patients (46%) had clonal T-cell populations in lesional skin specimens. The presence of lesional clonal T cells was unrelated to the presence or absence of circulating clonal T cells.
The presence of clonal T-cell populations in the peripheral circulation was unrelated to patient sex, disease duration, extent of skin involvement, digital ulcers, internal organ involvement, autoantibody profile, or the form of treatment employed, he said.
Disclosures: Dr. Kreuter reported no financial conflicts.
Twenty of 44 systemic sclerosis patients (46%) had clonal T-cell populations in lesional skin specimens.
Source DR. KREUTER