The coexistence of systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in five patients. Clinical and immunogenetic features suggest a distinct entity.
To elucidate the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of scleroderma-rheumatoid arthritis (SSc-RA) overlap syndrome, we analyzed the clinical features of 5 patients with SSc-RA overlap. Their HLA phenotypes and genotypes were also determined. Generalized skin sclerosis, severe seropositive polyarthritis, pulmonary fibrosis, anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, and HLA-DR4,53;DQA1*0301;DBQ1*04 haplotype were observed in all of the patients. Similar clinical features were recognized in most of the 10 cases reported previously. Our case studies indicate that SSc-RA overlap may be a distinct entity.
Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
T
T
Horiki
J
J
Moriuchi
M
M
Takaya
M
M
Uchiyama
Y
Y
Hoshina
K
K
Inada
H
H
Inoko
K
K
Tsuji
Y
Y
Ichikawa
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens