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© 1994 British Society for Rheumatology

research-article

LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF 46 PATIENTS WITH ANTI-(U1)snRNP ANTIBODIES

F. H. J. VAN DEN HOOGEN*,, P. E. SPRONK{dagger}, A. M. T. BOERBOOMS*, H. BOOTSMA{dagger}, D. J. R. A. M. DE ROOIJ{ddagger}, C. G. M. KALLENBERG{dagger} and L. B. A. VAN DE PUTTE*

*Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen
{dagger}Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Groningen
{ddagger}Department of Rheumatology, St Maartenskliniek Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Correspondence to: F. H. J. van den Hoogen, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, P. O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

The records of 46 patients with anti-(Ul)snRNP antibodies and a minimal period of follow-up after first clinical presentation of at least 5 yr were examined with emphasis on symptoms contributing to established criteria of SLE, systemic sclerosis (SSc), RA or dermato- or polymyositis (DM/PM). At first clinical presentation 13 (28%) of the 46 patients studied fulfilled ARA-criteria for SLE (n = 10), RA (n = 2) and SSc (n = 1), and 33 (72%) were classified as mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). During follow-up 18 patients initially classified as MCTD were now classified as SLE (n = 5), SSc (n = 7), RA (n =3), or a combination of these disorders (n = 3). A transformation of MCTD towards these connective tissue diseases occurred 2.6 ± 3 yr (mean ± S.D.) after first clinical presentation. At the end of the follow-up period 67% of the patients fulfilled ARA criteria for SLE, SSc, RA or a combination of these diseases.

The majority of patients with anti-(Ul)snRNP antibodies have or will develop a classified connective tissue disease within 5 yr after clinical presentation. This undermines the concept of MCTD being a distinct clinical entity.

KEY WORDS: Anti-(Ul)snRNP antibodies, Mixed connective tissue disease, Follow-up, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Systemic sclerosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Undifferentiated connective tissue disease


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