title: Patients with arthritis and anti-U1-RNP antibodies: a 10-year follow-up.
abstract: Five hundred and forty patients attending a rheumatology ward were screened for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) by indirect immunofluorescence (IFL). Seventy had a significant titre of ANA. Twenty-three had U1-ribonucleoprotein antibodies (U1-RNP-ab). The clinical findings in U1-RNP-ab-positive patients were consistent with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Disease was more serious in the U1-RNP-ab-positive patients in terms of polyarthritis severity as well as mortality due to rheumatic disease. Thus, in this arthritis patient population, U1-RNP-ab positivity predicted an aggressive disease characterized by an erosive arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Kivelä Municipal Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Piirainen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D001175:Arthrography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000276:immunology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor