title: Joint involvement in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Eleven out of 24 patients with systemic sclerosis had radiological features of inflammatory polyarthritis. Juxta-articular osteoporosis was present in 9 patients, erosions in 5 and loss of joint space in 6 patients. Only one patient had a positive rheumatoid factor. Titres of rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear factor, and plasma viscosity were comparable in patients with and without radiological abnormalities. Measurements of grip strength and finger-palm flexion also were similar in the two groups. However, in individual cases joint or tendon sheath disease was associated with loss of function.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging