Autoimmune epithelitis beyond the exocrine glands: an unusual case of anti-Ro/La and Scl-70 lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS: This case with LIP and disease-specific autoantibodies for pSS and SSc teaches the complexity and overlapping nature of both diseases, extending from autoimmune epithelitis with ectopic germinal centres to fibrosis-related SSc. It points out the significance of the affected tissue biopsy, which may uncover the different disease phenotypes. To this end, treatment with anti-CD20, acting at the crossroads of the pathogenetic mechanisms of both diseases may serve as a first choice therapy. PMID: 31464665 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Tags: Clin Exp Rheumatol Source Type: research