Arthritis in patients with systemic sclerosis

Overlap between systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis: a distinct clinical entity?

“…6 While some studies associate erosive arthritis with the presence of rheumatoid factor, suggesting an association between the two diseases, 7,12 others have not confirmed these data. 10,11,13 This study was expected to confirm the occurrence of typical clinical and laboratory manifestations in a subgroup of SSc patients with clinically and radiologically observed arthritis, as suggested by previous studies.…”

“…6 While some studies associate erosive arthritis with the presence of rheumatoid factor, suggesting an overlap between the two diseases, 7,12 others have not confirmed these data. 10,11,13 In our patients, although the presence of rheumatoid factor was related to the occurrence of arthritis in patients, only anti-CCP was undoubtedly related to the actual occurrence of overlap between SSc and RA, as well The results are presented in median ± standard error of the median or absolute frequency (relative frequency). * p value on one-way ANOVA test.…”

“…The prevalence of an association between SSc/RA varies from 4.3 to 5.2% among patients with systemic sclerosis. 6,11,12 In addition, a higher incidence of RA in patients with SSc than in the general population was found. 34 It was suggested that this SSc/RA overlap is a distinct entity according to the different genetic background of patients: significantly increased frequencies of HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR11 were observed in SSc/RA compared with RA patients and healthy individuals; also, allele frequencies of HLA-DR1 and HLA-DR4 (shared epitopes) were significantly higher in SSc/RA and RA than in patients with SSc or controls.…”

“…10,27 However, the prevalence of true overlap with RA has been described as being of 4.3-5.2% in other studies with patients with SSc. 6,11,12 An important aspect observed in our patients was that the presence of arthritis contributed a lot to the functional deficit and lower quality of life measured by sHAQ. With sHAQ, much higher disability scores were observed in the second clinical evaluation in patients with arthritis, although a direct comparison with patients without arthritis was not possible.…”

“…10 However, it is still under discussion whether erosive arthritis is part of SSc, if it could be a manifestation of an overlap syndrome, or the manifestation of a different independent disease. 11 Whether rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis could coexist in the same patient has also been subject of much controversy. 6 While some studies associate erosive arthritis with the presence of rheumatoid factor, suggesting an association between the two diseases, 7,12 others have not confirmed these data.…”