[Clinical study on two cases of progressive systemic sclerosis with anti Wa antibody]

It is well known that patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), as well as other autoimmune disease, have various kinds of autoantibodies. We presented two PSS patients with anti Wa antibody, which had recently been reported as a new anti cytoplasmic antibody in only one case with PSS. Our first case, 49 years old female had clinical features of arthralgia, Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, transient myalgia and sicca complex. Her laboratory findings showed hypergammaglobulinemia (1.9 g/dl), positive RAHA (1: 640) anti Wa antibody (1: 256), and anti SS-A antibody (1: 256). Second case, 64 years old female had also clinical features of Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, dysphagia, dyspnea on exertion and dry mouth. Furthermore lung fibrosis and dysmobility of upper GI tract were observed. FANA (1: 20) was detected as nucleolar pattern, and the titer of anti Wa antibody was 1: 64. Clinical findings of myositis were not seen in both cases. This study suggested that anti Wa antibody might be one of the diagnostic marker on PSS.