The primary connective tissue diseases (also called collagen vascular diseases) are likely
autoimmune with poorly understood mechanisms. This chapter reviews the non-autonomic …

A lot of attention has recently been paid to antiphospholipid and antiendothelial cell
antibodies as serological markers for systemic autoimmune diseases. Antiphospholipid …

Antiendothelial cell antibodies and increased von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels are
observed in many renal diseases. We studied renal morphology after administration of rabbit …

Not too long ago, it was thought that inflammation of blood vessels was the sole
manifestation of systemic autoimmune diseases. Today, however, we know that disorders of …

In 1957, Bywaters suggested that vasculitis was an inherent component of all connective
tissue diseases (Bywaters 1957). While vasculitis arising in the context of a pre-existing …

IgG class antiendothelial cell antibodies were sought by a cellular ELISA in 350 samples
from 118 patients with Kawasaki disease. They were found in 62 of the patients (52%); …

I. Rheumatoid Arthritis............................................................................................................. 343 II.
Demato/polymyositis............................................................................................................ 344 III …

Owing to their permanent contact with circulat-ing immune effectors, endothelial cells (EC)
have long been suspected of being a target for antibody (Ab)-mediated assaut. In spite of …

Antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) are detected in a number of infectious diseases, but
their pathogenic role remains unclear. As a result of damaging the target cells …

Accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease are seen in patients with primary
vasculitis (PSV) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The mechanisms behind this remain unclear …