Anti-NOR-90 autoantibodies and clinical associations in systemic sclerosis: an international retrospective cohort study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Autoantibodies against NOR-90 are rare and have been associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study seeks to identify the characteristics of SSc participants with anti-NOR-90 autoantibodies. Methods An international (Canada, Australia, USA, Mexico) cohort of 2143 SSc participants was included. Sera were tested using a line immunoassay (Euroimmun, Lübeck, Germany). Clinical associations with anti-NOR-90 autoantibodies were investigated. Single-specificity anti-NOR-90-positive was defined as anti-NOR-90-positivity without other SSc-related autoantibodies, except for anti-Ro52/TRIM21. Results 115 (5%) participants were anti-NOR-90-positive, of whom the majority overlapped with other autoantibodies. Anti-NOR-90 positivity overall was associated with a higher frequency of calcinosis (35% vs. 24%, OR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.52), digital ulcers (62% vs. 49%, OR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.61) and arthritis (37% vs. 29%, OR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.40). Single-specificity anti-NOR-90-positive participants ( n = 21) a significantly lower mean % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC, 82.0% vs. 91.3%) and diffusing capacity (DLCO, 58.9% vs. 69.0%), and a trend toward higher prevalence of interstitial lung disease (61% vs. 40%, OR 2.36, 95% CI: 0.92, 6.45) and lower median mRSS (4.0 vs. 7.0). Anti-NOR-90 autoantibodies were not associated with increased cancer (10% vs. 8%) or mortality (adjusted HR 1.28, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.79, log rank p = 0.3). Results from sensitivity analyses excluding anti-Ro52/TRIM21 from single-specificity definition were consistent in direction and magnitude. Conclusion In this large multicentre cohort, anti-NOR-90 autoantibodies commonly overlapped with other SSc-autoantibodies. Single-specificity anti-NOR-90 positivity was associated with more frequent interstitial lung disease and a tendency for lower mRSS.
Source: BMC Rheumatology
Authors: Hao Cheng Shen, Marie Hudson, Susanna Proudman, Jenny G. Walker, Wendy Stevens, Mandana Nikpour, Shervin Assassi, Maureen D. Mayes, Mianbo Wang, Valérie Leclair, Yves Troyanov, Maggie J. Larché, Murray Baron, May Y. Choi, Mohamed Osman, Janet Pope, Carter Thorne, Geneviève Gyger, Nader Khalidi, Ariel Masetto, Evelyn Sutton, Tatiana S. Rodriguez-Reyna, Nancy Maltez, Paul R. Fortin, Alena Ikic, David Robinson, Niall Jones, Sharon LeClercq, Peter Docherty, Mohamed Osman, May Y. Choy, Marvin J. Fritzler, Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG), Diane Apostolopoulos, Nava Ferdowsi, Dylan Hansen, Laureen V. Host, Gabor Major, Gene-Siew Ngian, Mandana Nikpour, Susanna Proudman, Laura Ross, Alannah Quinlivan, Joanne Sahhar, Wendy Stevens, Maryam Tabesh, Jenny G. Walker, Genetics versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcome Study (GENISOS), Shervin Assassi, Maureen D. Mayes, Terry A. McNearney, Gloria A. Salazar, Marvin J. Fritzler, Sabrina Hoa
Institutions: Jewish General Hospital, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Royal Adelaide Hospital, The University of Adelaide, Flinders Medical Centre, The University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Western University, Southlake Regional Health Center, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,190
Funders: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Dr. Fooke Laboratorien, Scleroderma Society of Ontario, Fonds de recherche du Québec, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Janssen Canada, Canadian Arthritis Network, Euroimmun Medizinische Labordiagnostika, Boehringer Ingelheim Canada
Award: G7111930163
OpenAlex ID: W7203833002
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: