Cutaneous immunofluorescence studies in adult rheumatoid arthritis in sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed areas.
The incidence and significance of positive cutaneous immunofluorescence findings were assessed in biopsy specimens of both sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed skin of 34 adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were not receiving systemic corticosteroids. The incidence of lupus erythematosus (LE)-band was low (8.6%) in both groups. Twenty-eight percent of the patients had perivascular IgM and/or C3 deposits, and 74% had cytoid bodies in the papillary dermis. These studies indicate that the incidence of LE band is low in RA and that the detection of such a band in normal skin warrants close follow-up of RA patients for possible development of LE.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M