RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Plasma Platelet-derived Microparticles in Patients with Connective Tissue Diseases JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 680 OP 684 DO 10.3899/jrheum.100780 VO 38 IS 4 A1 CHINAMI OYABU A1 AKIO MORINOBU A1 DAISUKE SUGIYAMA A1 JUN SAEGUSA A1 SHINO TANAKA A1 SAHOKO MORINOBU A1 GOH TSUJI A1 SHIMPEI KASAGI A1 SEIJI KAWANO A1 SHUNICHI KUMAGAI YR 2011 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/38/4/680.abstract AB Objective. To clarify the role of platelet-derived microparticles (PDMP), which are small vesicles with thrombotic and immunological properties, in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), dermatomyositis/polymyositis (PM/DM), and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Methods. Plasma levels of PDMP were measured by ELISA, and compared among patients with one of the 4 diseases. Association of PDMP levels with clinical characteristics and medication of the patients was also examined. Results. PDMP levels were higher in patients with MCTD and SSc than in controls. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) showed higher PDMP levels than those without. PDMP levels in individual patients did not fluctuate significantly over several months. Conclusion. PDMP level is associated with MCTD, SSc, and RP, and could be a novel marker for RP.