Description

A patient who presents with findings suggestive of undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) may progress to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) over a period of time. A number of findings may identify a patient for whom this is more likely.


 

Clinical findings:

(1) alopecia

(2) serositis

(3) photosensitivity

(4) discoid lupus

 

Laboratory findings:

(1) antibody to double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA)

(2) anti-Sm

(3) antiphospholipid antibody

(4) presence of multiple autoantibodies

(5) appearance of additional autoantibodies over time

 

where:

• In Calvo-Alen et al the relative risks for progression: anti-Sm 28; discoid lupus 16; ANA homogeneous ANA immunofluorescent pattern 5; serositis 4).

 


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