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Anti-pm/scl antibodies in connective tissue disease: Clinical and biological assessment of 14 patients


F. Vandergheynst, A. Ocmant, C. Sordet, R.L. Humbel, J. Goetz, F. Roufosse,E. Cogan, J. Sibilia

 

CER2742
2006 Vol.24, N°2
PI 0129, PF 0133
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PMID: 16762146 [PubMed]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Anti-PM/Scl antibodies (Anti-PM/Scl) represent a rarely encountered type of antinuclear antibodies. They have mainly been reported in association with idiopathic inflammatory myositis – systemic sclerosis overlap syndromes (also called scleromyositis or sclerodermatomyositis) but also with polymyositis, dermatomyositis and systemic sclerosis without features of overlap syndromes. Studies concerning characteristics of patients with anti-PM/SCl are rare and include small numbers of patients.PATIENTS AND
METHODS:
Retrospective review of clinical and biological characteristics of 14 patients with anti-PM/Scl in two University Hospitals: one in Belgium (Erasme Hospital, Bruxelles) and one in France (Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg).
RESULTS:
Seven patients were identified in Erasme and 7 in Strasbourg: 5 with systemic sclerosis – (dermato)myositis overlap syndromes, 4 with dermatomyositis, 1 with polymyositis, 3 with systemic sclerosis, 1 with primary Sjögren`s syndrome. The most frequently observed clinical characteristics (85% of patients) were: pulmonary interstitial disease and arthralgia or arthritis. No patient of our series died or developed cancer (mean follow-up:6.1 years).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study failed to identify an homogeneous clinical pattern in patients with anti-PM/Scl, except for 2 characteristics shared by 85% of the patients. This lack of homogeneity is in agreement with preceding literature. We confirm the favourable prognosis associated with the presence of anti-PM/Scl, despite the high incidence of interstitial pulmonary disease. The absence of cancer associated with presence of anti-PM/Scl represents a partial explanation. Finally, we report herein the second case of primary Sjögren`s syndrome associated with anti-PM/Scl.

Rheumatology Article