Anti-SMN autoantibodies in mixed connective tissue disease are associated with a severe systemic sclerosis phenotype

The survival of motor neuron (SMN) complex has an essential role in the assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (RNP). Recent reports have described autoantibodies (aAbs) to the SMN complex as novel biomarkers in anti-U1RNP+ myositis patients. The aim of this study was to compare phenotypic features of anti-U1RNP+ mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) patients with and without anti-SMN aAbs.

A retrospective MCTD cohort was studied. Addressable laser bead immunoassay was used to detect specific anti-SMN aAbs with <300 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) as normal reference range, 300-999 MFI as low-titre and ≥1000 MFI as high-titre positivity. Comparison of clinical features between anti-SMN+ and anti-SMN- subgroups used two-tailed Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analyses.

Sixty-six patients were included. Median age at MCTD diagnosis was 40.6 years, and duration of follow-up was 12 years. Based on the highest available titre, 39 (59%) were anti-SMN+: 10 (26%) had low titre and 29 (74%) had high titre. Anti-SMN+ patients had a higher frequency of fingertip pitting scars (anti-SMN+ 23% vs anti-SMN- 4%, p=0.04), lower gastrointestinal (GI) involvement (26% vs 4%, p=0.04), and myocarditis (16% vs 0%, p=0.04). The combined outcome of pitting scars and/or lower GI involvement and/or myositis and/or myocarditis was highest among high-titre anti-SMN+ patients: adjusted OR 7.79 (2.33 to 30.45, p=0.002).

Anti-SMN aAbs were present in 59% of our MCTD cohort. Their presence, especially at high-titres, was associated with a severe systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) phenotype including myositis, myocarditis and lower GI involvement.