title: [Clinical and serologic course of patients with mixed connective tissue disease].
abstract: The so called mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), continues to be a controversial entity, while some authors considered it a good characterized disease, others think that is an undifferentiated connective tissue disease. OBJECTIVE. To analyse the clinical and serological evolution of a group of patients diagnosed of MCTD, with particular consideration to the meaning of anti-nRNP and anti-Sm antibodies. METHOD. We have studied 20 patients diagnosed of MCTD and 112 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anti-nRNP and anti-Sm antibodies were detected through counter immunoelectrophoresis, immunoblotting and ELISA. RESULTS. After an average time of evolution of 10 years, 70% (14/20) of the patients diagnosed of MCTD fulfill criteria for SLE (6 cases), scleroderma (6 cases) or polymyositis (2 cases). Anti-nRNP response is persistent, directed mainly against the 70 Kd and A-nRNP polypeptides and qualitatively higher in MCTD in SLE (absorbencies 2.64 vs 1.25. The immunoblotting test detected anti-Sm antibodies in 5 patients (25%) and ELISA test in 14 (70%). CONCLUSIONS. Clinical and serological evolution suggest that MCTD is an undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Anti-nRNP antibodies are characteristic, although anti-Sm antibodies can be detected with ELISA regardless whether on not patients fulfill SLE criteria.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: López-Longo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Monteagudo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Mahou
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Atrio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escalona
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carreño
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins
vernacular_title: Evolución clínica y serológica en pacientes con enfermedad mixta del tejido conectivo.