ISSN:
1434-9949
Keywords:
Anti-U1RNP Antibodies
;
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary We performed a longitudinal follow-up study of clinical findings in 151 patients with high-titer antibodies against U1 ribonucleoprotein (U1RNP) as measured by haemagglutination. Formal connective tissue disease (CTD) diagnoses were assigned and diagnostic transitions analysed. One-hundred eighteen females and 33 males entered the study; the mean duration of follow-up was 7.1 years. Mean age at entry was 34.7 years; 73% of the patients had early disease (duration 〈2 years). Fifty-six patients (37%) presented with a definite diagnosis, most often mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD, n=40), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n=11) and systemic sclerosis (SSc, n=5). Of 84 patients (56%) presenting with nonspecific symptoms of possible, “undifferentiated” CTD, 58 developed MCTD, 4 SSc and 2 SLE. By the end of the follow-up period, 127 patients had developed a well-defined CTD; final diagnoses were: MCTD (n=97), SLE (n=18), SSc (n=12). We conclude that CTD in the context of high-titer anti-U1RNP antibodies may be transitive and sequential in nature, although the diagnostic criteria for MCTD previously proposed by our group seem to delimit a clinically stable condition in most patients in this subgroup.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02229703
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