Coexistence of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis in four patients.
The classic skin and internal organ system manifestations of systemic sclerosis developed in 4 individuals, each with an erosive, destructive chronic polyarthritis characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. All had serum rheumatoid factors, anti-nuclear antibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia and circulating immune complexes. Each of the 4 has been resistant to treatment. The features of these patients, together with an analysis of this unusual coexistence of two connective tissue disorders, are presented.
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy