RNP positivity in Maltese SLE patients

The SLE database at the Rheumatology Clinic, St. Luke's Hospital currently includes 62 patients. The presentation, clinical features, ACR criteria and laboratory findings in RNP positive lupus patients [14] were compared to RNP negative subgroup [33]. RNP positivity was significantly associated with Raynaud's phenomenon (p < 0.01), myalgia (p < 0.02), myositis (p < 0.05), neuropsychiatric features (p < 0.05) and Sm positivity (p < 0.01). RNP positive patients had a higher frequency of positive family history, mortality, malar and maculopapular rashes, nail-fold infarcts, telangiectasia, digital vasculitis, photo-sensitivity, arthritis, pleurisy, pericarditis, pericardial effusions, depression, headache, psychosis and TIA.