Exuberant juvenile hyaline fibromatosis in two patients.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis are rare autosomal recessive disorders of infancy and early childhood that are histologically characterized by deposition of hyaline material. The main clinical features are papulo-nodular skin lesions, gingival hypertrophy, joint contractures, and bone abnormalities. However, infantile systemic hyalinosis has a more severe clinical presentation, including visceral involvement and premature death. Very recently, genetic studies identified mutations in the same gene in patients with both conditions, strongly suggesting that they belong to the same disease spectrum. We report two new nonrelated patients who met the criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis/infantile systemic hyalinosis. Clinical, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings are presented, as well as an extensive review of the literature. Recent information regarding pathogenesis and treatment is discussed.

Prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in the serum of normal blood dornors.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the presence of serum antinuclear autoantibodies in a healthy population. METHODS: Serum of 500 normal blood donors between 18 and 60 years of age were tested for the presence of autoantibodies. Antinuclear antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique using HEp-2 epithelial cells as the substrate. The presence of dnaN was detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique using Critidia lucillae as the substrate. Anti-SSA (RO), anti-SSB (LA), anti-Sm, and anti-RNP were determined by double radial immunodiffusion. RESULTS: In the evaluation of the presence of serum antibodies, antinuclear antibodies were detected in 22.6% of the sera. The presence of other antibodies was not significant. The majority of the titers were 1:40. CONCLUSION: The presence of autoantibodies is not necessarily pathologic and has to be related to the age group, gender, and clinical condition of the patient.

Prevalence of antinuclear autoantibodies in the serum of normal blood dornors

OBJECTIVE:To examine the presence of serum antinuclear autoantibodies in a healthy population. METHODS: Serum of 500 normal blood donors between 18 and 60 years of age were tested for the presence of autoantibodies. Antinuclear antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique using HEp-2 epithelial cells as the substrate. The presence of dnaN was detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique using Critidia lucillae as the substrate. Anti-SSA (RO), anti-SSB (LA), anti-Sm, and anti-RNP were determined by double radial immunodiffusion. RESULTS: In the evaluation of the presence of serum antibodies, antinuclear antibodies were detected in 22.6 percent of the sera. The presence of other antibodies was not significant. The majority of the titers were 1:40. CONCLUSION: The presence of autoantibodies is not necessarily pathologic and has to be related to the age group, gender, and clinical condition of the patient