Objective SLE is known to have an aggressive phenotype in black populations, but data from African cohorts are largely lacking. We therefore compared immunological and clinical profiles between Sudanese and Swedish patients using similar tools. Methods Consecutive SLE patients from Sudan (n = 115) and Sweden (n = 340) and from 106 Sudanese and 318 Swedish age- and sex-matched controls were included. All patients fulfilled the 1982 ACR classification criteria for SLE. Ten ANA-associated specificities and C1q-binding immune complexes (CICs) were measured. Cut-offs were established based on Sudanese and Swedish controls, respectively. Disease activity was measured with a modified SLEDAI and organ damage with the SLICC Damage Index. In a nested case–control design, Swedish and Sudanese patients were matched for age and disease duration. Results Females constituted 95.6% and 88.1% of Sudanese and Swedish patients, respectively (P = 0.02), with younger age at inclusion (33 vs 47.7 years; P < 0.0001) and shorter disease duration (5 vs 14 years; P < 0.0001) among Sudanese patients. Anti-Sm antibodies were more frequent in Sudanese patients, whereas anti-dsDNA, anti-histone and CICs were higher in Swedish patients. In the matched analyses, there was a trend for higher SLEDAI among Swedes. However, Sudanese patients had more damage, solely attributed to high frequencies of cranial/peripheral neuropathy and diabetes. Conclusion While anti-Sm is more common in Sudan than in Sweden, the opposite is found for anti-dsDNA. Sudanese patients had higher damage scores, mainly because of neuropathy and diabetes. Sudanese patients were younger, with a shorter SLE duration, possibly indicating a more severe disease course with impact on survival rates.

Data on thyroid disease in Arabs with lupus is scarce. We conducted a cross-sectional and retrospective case-control study to report the prevalence of thyroid diseases in 110 Arabs with lupus who attended our Rheumatology Clinic between January 2002 and January 2007, and to delineate the clinical and immunological features of Arabs lupus patients with thyroid diseases. We found hypothyroidism in 15 (13.7%) patients. Overall, 25.6% had elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies, 14.6% had elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and 13.7% were positive for both antibodies. Lupus patients with hypothyroidism had a significantly higher frequency of polyarthritis (OR = 9.3, CI: 2.0-41.7, P < 0.001), cutaneous manifestations (OR = 5.6, CI: 2.4-14.3, P < 0.0001), positive anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (OR = 19.9, CI: 8.38-47.4, P < 0.0001), and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (OR = 12.3, CI: 6.27-24.1, P < 0.0001) than lupus patients with normal thyroid function. Furthermore, neuropsychiatric (OR = 0.36, CI: 0.14-0.93, P < 0.05) and hematological (OR = 0.52, CI: 0.29-0.91, P < 0.05) manifestations were significantly lower in patients with hypothyroidism than in euthyroid patients. Surprisingly, the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibody immunoglobulin G (aCL IgG) (OR = 0.34, CI: 0.13-0.86, P < 0.05), lupus anticoagulant (OR = 0.02, CI: 0.001-0.35, P < 0.0001), and anticardiolipin syndrome (OR = 0.02, CI: 0.001-0.43, P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in lupus patients with hypothyroidism than in lupus patients with normal thyroid function. In conclusion, the prevalence of hypothyroidism in Arabs with lupus is comparable to that reported in the literature. Arab lupus patients with hypothyroidism have distinctive clinical and immunological features that differentiate them from euthyroid patients.

Objectives IgA antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients of African American, Afro-Caribbean and South African origin. Nevertheless, data from North Africa are lacking, and most studies use manufacturer-suggested cut-offs based on Caucasian controls. Therefore, we compared aPL isotypes in Sudanese and Swedish SLE patients using nation-based cut-offs. Methods Consecutive SLE patients and age- and sex-matched controls from Sudan ( N = 115/106) and Sweden ( N = 340/318) were included. All patients fulfilled the 1982 American College of Rheumatology SLE classification criteria. Antiphospholipid syndrome–related events were obtained from patients’ records. IgA/G/M anticardiolipin and anti-β2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) were analysed with two independent assays. IgA anti-β2GPI domain 1 (D1) was also investigated. Manufacturers’ cut-offs and the 95th and 99th percentile cut-offs based on national controls were used. Results Sudanese patients and controls had higher levels and were more often positive for IgA aPL than Swedes when using manufacturers’ cut-offs. In contrast, using national cut-offs, the increase in IgA aPL among Sudanese patients was lost. Occurrence of IgA anti-D1 did not differ between the countries. Venous thromboses were less common among Sudanese patients and did not associate with aPL. No clinical associations were observed with IgA anti-β2GPI in Sudanese patients. Thromboses in Swedes were associated with IgG/M aPL. Fetal loss was associated with aPL in both cohorts. Conclusions IgA anti-β2GPI prevalence was higher among Sudanese compared to Swedish patients when manufacturers’ cut-offs were used. This situation was reversed when applying national cut-offs. Anti-D1 was not increased in Sudanese patients. Previous studies on populations of African origin, which demonstrate a high prevalence of IgA aPL positivity, should be re-evaluated using a similar cut-off approach.

Objectives Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex antibodies (aPS/PT) are risk factors for thrombosis, yet further validation of their clinical relevance in different ethnic groups is required. We investigated the performance of aPS/PT of IgA/G/M isotypes among Sudanese and Swedish systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods Consecutive SLE patients/matched controls from Sudan (n = 91/102) and Sweden (n = 332/163) were included. All patients fulfilled the 1982 ACR SLE classification criteria. IgA/G/M of aPS/PT, anti-cardiolipin and anti-β2glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) were tested in both cohorts, and lupus anticoagulant (LA) also in the Swedish cohort. Clinical antiphospholipid syndrome-related events and atherosclerosis, measured as carotid plaques were assessed for associations. Univariate and multivariate analyses adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors were performed. Results Sudanese SLE patients had higher levels of IgM aPS/PT, but using national cut-offs, the frequency of positivity was similar to Swedish patients for all isotypes. Among Swedish patients, all isotypes of aPS/PT associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE), while only IgA aPS/PT associated with arterial thrombosis (AT). aPS/PT antibodies associated strongly with LA and they were, independently, the best predictor for VTE. Double positivity for aPS/PT and anti-β2GPI associated with higher VTE risk than the conventional triple positivity. Carotid plaques did not associate with any antiphospholipid antibody. Conclusions IgA aPS/PT associated with AT, and the association of IgG/M aPS/PT with VTE outperforms LA and criteria antiphospholipid antibodies in Swedish SLE patients. Furthermore, double positivity for aPS/PT and anti-β2GPI performed better than conventional triple positivity. Future studies need to address if aPS/PT can replace LA, as this would simplify clinical procedures.

Objective The role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) during apparently normal pregnancy is still unclear. IgA aPL are prevalent in populations of African origin. Our aim was to measure all isotypes of anticardiolipin (anti-CL) and anti–β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) in healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women of different ethnicities. Methods Healthy Sudanese pregnant women ( n = 165; 53 sampled shortly after delivery), 96 age-matched Sudanese female controls and 42 healthy pregnant and 249 non-pregnant Swedish women were included. IgA/G/M anti-CL and anti-β2GPI were tested at one time point only with two independent assays in Sudanese and serially in pregnant Swedes. IgA anti-β2GPI domain 1 and as controls IgA/G/M rheumatoid factor (RF), IgG anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (anti-CCP2) and anti–thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) were investigated in Sudanese females. Results Pregnant Sudanese women had significantly higher median levels of IgA anti-CL, IgA anti-β2GPI ( p < 0.0001 for both antibodies using two assays) and IgM anti-β2GPI (both assays; p < 0.0001 and 0.008) compared with non-pregnant Sudanese. IgA anti-CL and anti-β2GPI occurrence was increased among Sudanese pregnant women compared with national controls. No corresponding increase during pregnancy was found for IgA anti-β2GPI domain 1 antibodies. Both IgG anti-CL and IgG control autoantibodies decreased during and directly after pregnancy among Sudanese. Serially followed Swedish women showed no changes in IgA aPL, whereas IgG/M anti-CL decreased. Conclusions IgA aPL are increased in Sudanese but not in Swedish women, without corresponding increase in IgA domain 1. Whether due to ethnicity and/or environmental influences the occurrence of IgA aPL during Sudanese pregnancies, and its clinical significance, is yet to be determined.

The role of anti-nuclear autoantibody (ANA) specificities in immune complexes (IC) formation has been studied to a limited extent in SLE, and not at all in African SLE patients. We compared ANA in IC from Sudanese and Swedish SLE patients. We included 93 Sudanese and 332 Swedish SLE patients fulfilling the 1982 ACR criteria. IC were captured using C1q-coated beads. ANA specificities were quantified in sera and IC. Results were related to modified SLEDAI. Whereas serum levels of anti-Sm, anti-dsDNA and anti-ribosomal P were higher in Swedish patients, IC levels of most ANA specificities were higher among Sudanese patients. This difference was especially prominent for anti-chromatin antibodies, which remained after adjustment for age, disease duration and treatment. Total levels of C1q-binding IC correlated with levels of specific ANA in IC, with highest correlations for anti-chromatin antibodies among Sudanese patients. Whereas occurrence of anti- SSA/Ro60, anti-histone and anti-U1RNP in both serum and IC associated with high SLEDAI score, anti-dsDNA in IC but not in serum associated with high SLEDAI. ANA, especially antibodies targeting chromatin, accumulate more in IC from Sudanese SLE patients. If the autoantibody fraction forming IC is pathogenically important, this might explain the generally described severe SLE in black populations.

The aim of this study was to assess visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among infected Sudanese patients in Al–Gedaref state. Methods and Results: A case-control study was conducted among patients with VL attending Al–Gaderif Teaching Hospital. A total of 80 subjects were included in the study: 40 patients with VL (the main group [MG]) and 40 apparently healthy individuals (the control group [CG]). The complete blood count (CBC) was determined using the Sysmex KX-21 N hematological analyzer. The platelet-poor plasma was used to determine prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The age group of 12-21 years was the most frequent (40%) among VL patients. Male patients were significantly more frequent (72.5%) than females (P-value=0.02). In MG, the Hb level was 8.71±1.73g/dL, compared to 14.25±4.11g/dL in CG, which reflected the severity of the disease. WBCs and neutrophils decreased significantly, compared to CG, but lymphocytes increased significantly. Thrombocytopenia was observed among pediatric patients, indicating bleeding tendency as one of the VL complications. The platelet and coagulation profile of patients was also altered. PT and aPTT were prolonged significantly, compared to CG.

Background:Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) of IgA isotype are prevalent in SLE patients of African-American, Afro-Caribbean and South-African origin, but data from North Africa are lackingObjectives:To compare and determine clinical significance of aPL isotypes in Sudanese and Swedish SLE patients using nation-based cutoffsMethods:Consecutive Sudanese (n=115) and Swedish (n=340) SLE patients and 106 and 318 age- and sex-matched national controls were included. All patients fulfilled the 1982 ACR SLE classification criteria. IgA/G/M anti-cardiolipin and anti-β2GPI were analyzed with two independent assays (Fluorescence Enzyme Immuno Assay (FEIA) from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Particle-based Multi-Analyte Technology (PMAT) from Inova Diagnostics). IgA anti-β2GPI domain1 (D1) was investigated with chemiluminescence (CIA), Inova Diagnostics. APS-related events were obtained from patients’ records. Manufacturers’, 95thand 99thpercentile cutoffs, based on national controls calculated by non-parametric methods, were usedResults:Sudanese patients had higher levels and prevalence of IgA aPL using manufacturers’ cutoffs (Table 1 and Figure 1). IgA/IgG aPL were also higher among Sudanese controls, But, Swedish patients were more often positive for IgA anti-β2GPI with both assays when national cutoffs were applied (Table 1). Occurrence of IgA anti-D1 did not differ between the countries. Venous thromboses were less common among Sudanese patients and no aPL, including IgA anti-β2GPI associated with thrombosis in Sudanese patients. Thrombosis in Swedes associated with IgG/IgM aPL. Fetal loss associated with aPL in both cohorts most evident after national adjustmentsTable 1.FEIASudann=92FEIASweden n=291PPMAT/CIASudann=93PMAT/CIASweden n=333PIgA CL median/IQR6.5/5.24.0/4.1<0.0001194/185148/112<0.0001IgG CL4.1/5.13.0/4.50.0002205/137190/215.10.09IgM CL2.7/6.83.7/5.40.02214/251.5193/35020.2IgA β2GPI6.3/14.22.7/3.8<0.0001212/347118/152<0.0001IgG β2GPI4.2/2.91.8/2.3<0.0001158/110.7145.2/147.50.04IgM β2GPI2.0/3.01.4/2.20.006146.2/189.7132.5/235.40.09IgA B2GP1 D11542/1253.51683/1518.10.045IgA CL common cutoff n(%)9(9.8)17(5.8)0.232(35.2)75(22.7)0.02IgG CL4(4.3)21(6.7)0.414(15)72(22.1)0.1IgM CL3(3.2)14(4.5)0.610(11.4)43(13.1)0.6IgA β2GPI32(34.8)43(14.9)<0.000138(41.8)76(23)0.0004IgG β2GPI10(10.9)44(14.1)0.45(5.4)50(15.3)0.01IgM β2GPI10(10.9)27(8.7)0.512(13.6)42(12.9)0.8IgA B2GP1 D16(6.4)38(11.4)0.2IgA CL 95thcutoffn(%)9(9.8)54(18.6)0.04736(39.6)121(26.6)0.6IgG CL8(8.7)42(13.5)0.224(25.8)103(31.6)0.3IgM CL8(8.7)39(12.5)0.316(18.2)47(14.4)0.4IgA β2GPI18(19.6)100(34.7)0.00620(22)125(37.8)0.005IgG β2GPI2(2.1)67(21.5)<0.000119(20.4)83(25.5)0.3IgM β2GPI14(15.22)57(18.3)0.520(22.7)57(17.5)0.3IgA B2GP1 D125(26.9)69(20.7)0.2Figure 1.Conclusion:IgA anti-β2GPI levels were generally higher among Sudanese compared to Swedish SLE patients and controls, but after national adjustments more Swedish than Sudanese patients were positive. IgA anti-D1 was not increased in Sudanese patients. Previous studies on populations of African-origin, which demonstrate high prevalence of IgA aPL positivity, should be re-evaluated using similar cutoff approachAcknowledgments: :We thank Maryam Poorafshar at Thermo Fischer Scientific and Silvia Casas and Michael Mahler at Inova Diagnostics for help with analysesDisclosure of Interests:None declared