{"title":"Evaluation of Positive Cases for Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) Immunofluorescence Pattern and Anti-DFS70 Antibodies.","authors":"Melahat Gurbuz, Betul F Yıldırım, Yeliz Cetinkol","doi":"10.12669/pjms.41.2.10336","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The detection of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) is crucial in diagnosing systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). The Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) nuclear pattern is one of the most common indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) patterns detected during routine ANA screening in patients with various clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to analyze the data of patients who were positive for DFS/antiDFS in our patient population and to show the possible clinical relationship.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective study, 7406 patient serum samples sent to our laboratory for routine ANA screening between May 2022-2023 were evaluated for the presence of anti-DFS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In a group of patients referred for routine ANA screening using the indirect immunofluorescence method, the frequency of DFS pattern was found to be 4.55% (337/7406), with ANA positivity detected at a rate of 25.68% (1902/7406). Out of 221 patients with DFS pattern, 181 tested positive for anti-DFS antibodies in both the IIF-ANA and immunoblot (IB) tests. Additionally, 11 of these patients tested positive for other antibodies against different extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENAs). Conversely, only seven out of the 40 patients who tested negative for anti-DFS antibodies showed positive results for other anti-ENAs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The DFS pattern is often positive in individuals. In patients exhibiting this pattern, anti-DFS70 antibody may be detected alone or in combination with SARD-associated autoantibodies. Therefore, we propose that in this patient cohort, it would be more prudent to screen for additional concomitant autoantibodies with anti-ENA rather than confirming isolated anti-DFS.</p>","PeriodicalId":19958,"journal":{"name":"Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"41 2","pages":"580-584"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11803775/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.10336","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: The detection of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) is crucial in diagnosing systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). The Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) nuclear pattern is one of the most common indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) patterns detected during routine ANA screening in patients with various clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to analyze the data of patients who were positive for DFS/antiDFS in our patient population and to show the possible clinical relationship.
Methods: In this retrospective study, 7406 patient serum samples sent to our laboratory for routine ANA screening between May 2022-2023 were evaluated for the presence of anti-DFS.
Results: In a group of patients referred for routine ANA screening using the indirect immunofluorescence method, the frequency of DFS pattern was found to be 4.55% (337/7406), with ANA positivity detected at a rate of 25.68% (1902/7406). Out of 221 patients with DFS pattern, 181 tested positive for anti-DFS antibodies in both the IIF-ANA and immunoblot (IB) tests. Additionally, 11 of these patients tested positive for other antibodies against different extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENAs). Conversely, only seven out of the 40 patients who tested negative for anti-DFS antibodies showed positive results for other anti-ENAs.
Conclusion: The DFS pattern is often positive in individuals. In patients exhibiting this pattern, anti-DFS70 antibody may be detected alone or in combination with SARD-associated autoantibodies. Therefore, we propose that in this patient cohort, it would be more prudent to screen for additional concomitant autoantibodies with anti-ENA rather than confirming isolated anti-DFS.
期刊介绍:
It is a peer reviewed medical journal published regularly since 1984. It was previously known as quarterly "SPECIALIST" till December 31st 1999. It publishes original research articles, review articles, current practices, short communications & case reports. It attracts manuscripts not only from within Pakistan but also from over fifty countries from abroad.
Copies of PJMS are sent to all the import medical libraries all over Pakistan and overseas particularly in South East Asia and Asia Pacific besides WHO EMRO Region countries. Eminent members of the medical profession at home and abroad regularly contribute their write-ups, manuscripts in our publications. We pursue an independent editorial policy, which allows an opportunity to the healthcare professionals to express their views without any fear or favour. That is why many opinion makers among the medical and pharmaceutical profession use this publication to communicate their viewpoint.