ISSN:
1434-9949
Keywords:
Anticentromere Antibodies
;
Antinuclear Antibodies
;
Autoantibodies
;
CREST Syndrome
;
Scleroderma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary A retrospective survey of all patients with a positive anticentromere antibody (ACA) determination was undertaken over a 3-years period of time in a university hospital. Forty-five patients were positive for anticentromere antibodies. The analysis of the clinical characteristics and diagnoses of the patients with anticentromere antibodies were correlated and showed a diverse array of symptoms. Only 4.4% had CREST syndrome, 6.7% had limited scleroderma, 17.8% had diffuse scleroderma, 20% had other connective tissue diseases, 20% had other miscellaneous rheumatic conditions, 11.1% had tumours and 20% other nonrheumatic diseases. The study shows that the presence of ACA, as detected during routine ANA-testing, does not strongly suggest a diagnosis of CREST at that time. The presence of a scleroderma-variant in almost 50% of the patients and the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon in 62% underscores, however, an association of ACA with (early) scleroderma-like disorders.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02242937
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