Characteristics of lipids imbalance in patients with tick-borne encephalitis.

Using a novel approach, we have analyzed 30 parameters characterizing detailed spectrum and fractional content of LPs in plasma of patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The blood plasma of all TBE patients (30 patients), as compared with that of healthy individuals (120 patients), is characterized by decreased concentrations of many LP subfractions and of the total concentration of all plasma LPs (hypolipoproteinemia). The observed difference in some parameters was statistically significant. Using computer-assisted factor analysis, we have shown that according to these 30 parameters TBE patients are similar to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The results provide grounds for using data on blood plasma LPs as additional criteria for diagnosis of TBE.

[Antibodies to DNA in the blood of patients with tick-borne encephalitis]. / Antitela k DNK v krovi bol'nykh kleshchevym éntsefalitom.

A comparison of relative levels of autoantibodies (Abs) to both native (n) and denatured (d) DNA in the blood of 55 patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) was carried out. 31% of patients with TBE was shown to have an increased level Abs to nDNA and 40% of patients demonstrate increased level of Abs to dDNA. The percent of TBE patients with increased concentration of anti-nDNA Abs higher then that in patients with multiple sclerosis (18%) and some other autoimmune diseases (6-18%), but comparable with that for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (38%) and polymyositis (42%). In contrast to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis, the level of Abs to nDNA in patients with TBE is higher than the level of Abs to dDNA. Correlation coefficients of Ab levels to both n- and dDNA were estimated for group of patients in whole and for separate subgroups with different type of disease (temperature reaction, feverishness and meningitis). Analysis of correlation between titres of anti-DNA Abs and three standard biochemical markers of TBE (activity of aspartate- and alanine-aminotransferases, and concentration of whole bilirubin) for 22 patients with TBE was carried out. Statistically significant correlation was revealed only between the level of Abs to nDNA and activities of aspartate- and alanine-aminotransferases, correlation coefficients are equal to +0.44 and +0.48, respectively.

[Association between DNA antibodies levels in the blood of patients with multiple sclerosis and clinical presentation of the disease]. / Urovni antitel k DNK v krovi bol'nykh rasseiannym sklerozom v zavisimosti ot klinicheskikh kharakteristik zabolevaniia.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) as an autoimmune disease is characterized by occurrence of high titres of antibodies (AB) to cell structures and autoantigens. Various AB-mediated effector mechanisms can participate directly in the pathogenesis of demyelinisation damaging myelin, oligodendrocytes and nervous fibres. Antinuclear AB, including anti-DNA AB are an example of activation of humoral immunity in MS. Pathogenetic and clinical value of these AB is investigated insufficiently. The aim of this study was estimation of the AB titers in MS patients from two populations of Russia in relation to clinical features of MS. Results of examination of 83 patients with definite MS from Novosibirsk and Moscow (49 and 34 patients) are analyzed. Groups of comparison consisted of healthy donors and patients with SLE of the same age. Use of identical methods in the analysis of the data received in two various populations made the data objective as much as possible and revealed the strongest clinico-biochemical associations. Levels of AB to both native and denaturated DNA were studied. Comparison of several test-systems showed that the system produced by "Specialized scientific Labs" Company has the best sensitivity. In two populations of MS patients the levels of AB in plasma were similar and associated between each other, higher than in donors, but lower than in SLE patients. In both groups MS patients with secondary progressive MS had higher percent of samples of plasma with average and high levels of AB. In the Novosibirsk group associations of levels of AB with parameters of disease severety (EDSS and a number of FS scales) were seen. In the Moscow group levels of AB to DNA were significantly associated with time from the disease onset to certain level of disability (EDSS 3); both the analysis of average values and the correlation analysis showed a weak association of AB to DNA level and MS duration. The data testify that AB to DNA play a more important role in MS pathogenesis than was considered earlier. Catalytic AB as a part of anti-DNA AB may play a special role.