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Systemic lupus erythematosus evolving into rheumatoid arthritis
Naomi F Rothfield1, Arnold A Lim
1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. Rothfield@nso.uchc.edu
The Journal of Rheumatology
|January 6, 2006
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can evolve into rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over time. Three patients developed RA manifestations a decade after their initial SLE diagnosis, meeting criteria for both autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are distinct autoimmune diseases.
- The co-occurrence and sequential development of SLE and RA in the same patient are rare.
Observation:
- Three patients initially diagnosed with SLE presented with new-onset clinical and serological signs of RA.
- These new manifestations appeared 10 or more years after the initial SLE diagnosis.
Findings:
- All three patients met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for both SLE and RA.
- This suggests a potential disease progression or shared underlying pathophysiology.
Implications:
- Highlights the complex interplay between different autoimmune conditions.
- May necessitate re-evaluation of diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with overlapping autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
- Further research into shared etiological factors and disease mechanisms is warranted.