ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meeting Abstracts
    • All Meetings
    • PRSYM 2026
    • ACR Convergence 2025
    • Download Abstract Supplements
  • Keyword Index
  • Search
  • My Favorites
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all favorites

Abstract Number: 163

Anti-Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) Autoantibodies in Autoinflammatory Vasculopathies

Asa Laestadius1, May Choi 1, Marvin Fritzler 1, Aurore Fifi-Mah 2, Susanne Benseler 3 and Joao Dantas 1, 1University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, 2Calgary, Canada, 3Univeristy of Calgary, Calagry, Canada

Meeting: Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium 2020

Keywords: autoantibodies, Biomarkers, systemic vasculitides

  • Tweet
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
Session Information

The 2020 Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium, originally scheduled for April 29 – May 2, was postponed due to COVID-19; therefore, abstracts were not presented as scheduled.

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2020

Title: Poster Session 3

Session Type: ACR Abstract Session

Session Time: 4:15PM-5:15PM

Background/Purpose: Autoantibodies to dense fine speckles 70 (DFS70) is now recognized to be more common among apparently healthy individuals compared to patients with ANA-related rheumatic disease (AARD). DFS70 autoantibodies has also been associated with milder rheumatic autoimmune disease  and has a higher prevalence in young women implicating age-related hormonal alteration. Whether anti-DFS70 is a clinically relevant biomarker in autoinflammatory vasculopathies (AV) not well studied. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-DFS70 in a spectrum of AV’s and whether anti-DFS70 has a clinically relevant correlation to patient demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with AV by a rheumatologist (AF-M) in Calgary, Alberta, were enrolled in the Southern Alberta Vasculitis Patient Registry. Antibodies to proteinase 3 (PR3), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and DFS70 were detected by a chemiluminescence immunoassay. The association between anti-DFS70, diagnosis, age, sex, disease activity as assessed by Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and disease duration was described.

Results: There were 146 AV patients, 7 (4.8%) of which had a positive anti-DFS70 antibody. This included 1/22 (4.5%) giant cell arteritis, 2/35 (5.7%) granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 1/10 (10.0%) Behçet disease, 1/7 (14.3%) microscopic polyangiitis, 1/1 (100%) eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 1/6 (16.7%) IgA vasculitis. The mean age of patients with positive anti-DFS70 antibody was 57 years (standard deviation 46-83) with 57% being younger than 55-years-old. All patients were female. Sampling from diagnosis of disease ranged between 0-10 years, and BVAS was 0 in 6/7 patients and 2 in one patient.

Conclusion: The prevalence of anti-DFS70 autoantibodies in AV was rare (5%), similar to the frequency seen in other AARDs. Although the number of DFS70 positive patients were few, all patients were female with low disease activity.


Disclosure: A. Laestadius, None; M. Choi, None; M. Fritzler, Inova Diagnostics Inc., 1; A. Fifi-Mah, None; S. Benseler, None; J. Dantas, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Laestadius A, Choi M, Fritzler M, Fifi-Mah A, Benseler S, Dantas J. Anti-Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) Autoantibodies in Autoinflammatory Vasculopathies [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020; 72 (suppl 4). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/anti-dense-fine-speckled-dfs-autoantibodies-in-autoinflammatory-vasculopathies/. Accessed .
  • Tweet
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium 2020

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/anti-dense-fine-speckled-dfs-autoantibodies-in-autoinflammatory-vasculopathies/

Advanced Search

My Favorites

Save and print abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract (must have cookies enabled in browser). See saved favorites.

Abstract Policies

  • ACR Convergence Abstract Embargo Policies
  • ACR Convergence Abstract Permissions & Reprints
  • PRSYM Abstract Policies

ACR Convergence. Where Rheumatology Meets

ACR Convergence 2026

Join us November 6-11 in Orlando, Florida.
See Registration Information

  • Contact ACR
  • Privacy Policy
  • ACR Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2026 American College of Rheumatology