RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clinical and immunologic manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease in a Miami population compared to a Midwestern US Caucasian population.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 429
OP 437
VO 35
IS 3
A1 Marcos E Maldonado
A1 Magdalena Perez
A1 Judith Pignac-Kobinger
A1 Emily Triana Marx
A1 Elaine M Tozman
A1 Eric L Greidinger
A1 Robert W Hoffman
YR 2008
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/3/429.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was performed to determine if there were identifiable differences in the clinical expression of MCTD associated with race or ethnicity. METHODS: Miami, Florida, and Midwestern US (Missouri) Caucasian MCTD cohorts were studied. Clinical and laboratory features of the 2 MCTD cohorts were compared. A concurrently collected cohort of Sm-positive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was studied as a control. Disease activity and severity and functional status were measured. CD4+CD25(high)-expressing T-regulatory cells were enumerated and serum soluble L selectin was measured as biomarkers of disease activity. RESULTS: The Miami and Missouri Caucasian MCTD groups, while differing from the SLE group, were largely similar; however, gastroesophageal reflux, sclerodactyly, and malar rash were significantly more frequent in the Missouri MCTD group and alopecia was more frequent in the Miami MCTD group. Significant clinical and laboratory differences were found between the Miami MCTD and Miami SLE groups despite similar disease duration, activity, severity and functional status. Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), hand swelling, synovitis, myositis, and sclerodactyly were all significantly more common in RNP-positive MCTD versus Sm-positive SLE subjects. CONCLUSION Ethnic differences were observed in the frequency of end-organ involvement in the Miami MCTD versus the Missouri Caucasian MCTD groups. Clinical and laboratory features of all MCTD groups were clearly different from the SLE group, despite similar disease activity, disease severity, and functional status. Disease activity measures appeared to behave similarly as valid measures of disease activity in SLE and MCTD.