title: Significance of anticentromere antibody in idiopathic Raynaud's syndrome.
abstract: Fifty-eight patients with Raynaud's syndrome who had no evidence of definite underlying connective tissue disease had serum analyzed for the presence of anticentromere antibody using indirect immunofluorescence techniques on HEp-2 cell lines. Eighteen patients (31 percent) were anticentromere antibody-positive. The anticentromere antibody-positive group demonstrated significantly more frequent digital telangiectases, digital edema, elevated levels of immunoglobulins, and low C4 values. Photoplethysmography revealed significantly diminished blood flow in the anticentromere antibody-positive group. Capillary microscopy revealed significantly increased avascularity and number of dilated loops in the anticentromere antibody-positive group. Giant loops were seen exclusively in the anticentromere antibody-positive group. The clinical findings in the anticentromere antibody-positive group are suggestive of a transition to a connective tissue disease with features of the CREST syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarkozi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bookman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Keystone
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fritzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D002503:Centromere / Q000276:immunology*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000276:immunology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010991:Plethysmography; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear