Cluster analysis identifies three clinical patterns of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and anti-Ku antibodies
Authors' conclusion
Three distinct groups of anti-Ku-positive patients were identified
Study context
- Population
- Anti-Ku-positive patients with systemic autoimmune diseases from four immunology departments
- Participants
- 154 patients
- Exposure
- Three clusters of anti-Ku-positive patients compared with one another
- Cluster 1n = 42
- Cluster 2n = 69
- Cluster 3n = 43
- Outcome
- Distinct clinical patterns (clusters) and risk of disease progression (composite of new organ involvement or need for new immunosuppressants)
Methodological detailsmulticentre (four immunology departments), unsupervised multiple correspondence analysis, hierarchical clustering
- Multicentre (four immunology departments)
- Unsupervised multiple correspondence analysis
- Hierarchical clustering
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cluster characteristics at disease onset
Cluster characteristics at disease onset
Muscle involvement Cluster 1 all patients
Cardiac manifestations Cluster 1 34%
Inflammatory myopathies Cluster 1 n=35/42, 83%
SSc Cluster 1 n=17/42, 40%
Women
Lung involvement Cluster 2 54%
Fulfilled SjD criteria Cluster 2 25%
Median age Cluster 3 25 years
Fulfilled SLE criteria Cluster 3 79%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Outcomes over follow-up, incl. disease progressionCluster 1 vs Cluster 3 · three clusters compared; distinct outcomes | P = 0.001 |
Outcomes over follow-up, incl. disease progression
- Cluster 1 developed lung involvement and had the higher risk of disease progression
- Cluster 2 was prone to myositis development
- Cluster 3 developed various clinical manifestations
Heart involvement over time
- Proportion with heart involvement doubled over time in all clusters; mostly myocarditis in cluster 1, PAH in cluster 2, pericarditis in cluster 3
Original publication
Cluster analysis identifies three clinical patterns of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and anti-Ku antibodies. RMD Open. Published 4 June 2025. doi:10.
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