Clinical implications of ribonucleoprotein antibody

Out of 97 patients with circulating ribonucleoprotein antibodies, 44 (45%) satisfied the criteria for systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, or rheumatoid arthritis. Forty-two (43%) of the 97 patients whose cases did not fulfill these criteria had at least two of the following three clinical manifestations: arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and swollen or sclerotic fingers. A fifth of the latter group of patients had chronic, restrictive pulmonary disease or myopathy and two thirds had hypergammaglobulinemia, IgM rheumatoid factor, and sensitized epidermal nuclei. Few patients had hypocomplementemia. One patient had nephropathy. Most patients had an unchanged, benign disease course for, on the average, nine years. It is suggested that the term mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) be reserved for such patients, and that the acronym MCTD be changed to SRA (swollen fingers, Raynaud's phenomenon, and arthritis). Treatment with glucocorticoids is necessary for only a minority of patients.