Mosca et al listed clinical and laboratory findings seen in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD). The authors are from the University of Pisa in Italy.
Clinical findings:
(1) arthralgias and/or arthritis
(2) Raynaud's phenomenon
(3) photosensitivity
(4) serositis
(5) xerostomia and xerophthalmia
(6) oral aphthous ulcers
(7) malar rash
Laboratory findings:
(1) leukopenia
(2) thrombocytopenia
(3) anemia
(4) positive antinuclear antibody (ANA)
(5) presence of other autoantibodies: anti-Ro, anti-RNP, anti-double stranded DNA, antiphospholipid antibodies, other
Autoantibody patterns in UCTD:
(1) typically simple, usually showing a single type (anti-Ro or anti-RNP)
(2) tends to be stable over time, with appearance of new antibodies rare
Differential diagnosis - includes:
(1) SLE
(2) scleroderma
(3) Sjogren's syndrome
(4) rheumatoid arthritis
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