Abstract
Objective. To assess the prevalence of disease-specific autoantibodies in patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc).
Methods. Sera from 180 patients with lcSSc were analyzed for antinuclear antibody (ANA). Clinical characteristics were compared in the presence or absence of specific autoantibodies.
Results. SSc-specific antibodies were detected in 135 patients (75%). Associations were found between anticentromere antibody and age at lcSSc diagnosis, telangiectasia, reduced creatinine clearance, and selective reduction in DLCO, and between antitopoisomerase-I and pulmonary fibrosis.
Conclusion. The majority of patients with lcSSc belong to distinctive serologic subsets, potentially with prognostic significance.
Footnotes
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Funded by Arthritis Research UK.
- Accepted for publication November 26, 2010.