title: RNP positivity in Maltese SLE patients.
abstract: The SLE database at the Rheumatology Clinic, St. Luke's Hospital currently includes 62 patients. The presentation, clinical features, ACR criteria and laboratory findings in RNP positive lupus patients [14] were compared to RNP negative subgroup [33]. RNP positivity was significantly associated with Raynaud's phenomenon (p < 0.01), myalgia (p < 0.02), myositis (p < 0.05), neuropsychiatric features (p < 0.05) and Sm positivity (p < 0.01). RNP positive patients had a higher frequency of positive family history, mortality, malar and maculopapular rashes, nail-fold infarcts, telangiectasia, digital vasculitis, photo-sensitivity, arthritis, pleurisy, pericarditis, pericardial effusions, depression, headache, psychosis and TIA.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, St. Luke's Hospital, Malta.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallia
mesh_terms: D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins