Clinical and serological follow-up of patients with polyarthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and circulating RNP antibodies.
Fourteen patients with polyarthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon/sclerodactyly, and circulating (U1)RNP antibodies were followed up for 10 years. All patients could be classified as having the mixed connective tissue disease at the end of the follow-up. The immunoblotting analysis revealed marked heterogeneity in the ribonucleoprotein antibody profiles. The antibodies were mainly of the IgG isotype but in four sera only IgA and/or IgM type antibodies were demonstrated. Three patients who were found to have anti-RNP by the immunodiffusion assay proved negative for anti-U-RNP antibodies by immunoblotting. Patients with antibodies against the BB' polypeptides of U-RNP particles had a disease characterized by non-erosive arthritis, sclerodactyly and cutaneous manifestations. Patients who had antibodies against the 70 kD polypeptide of U1-RNP particles only had an erosive polyarthritis. However, these patients did not tolerate treatment with either gold salts or with D-penicillamine. Thus, the classification of the RNP antibodies by immunoblotting technique seemed to define patient groups whose disease took differing courses.
Rheumatology Unit, Kivelä Municipal Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
H I
HI
Piirainen
P T
PT
Kurki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins