Raynaud's phenomenon together with antinuclear antibodies: a common subset of incomplete connective tissue disease

The frequency of incomplete connective tissue disease (ICTD) is unknown.

Our purpose was to determine the frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in patients without definite connective tissue disease.

A series of 165 consecutive patients with RP was investigated.

Fifty-one patients had primary RP; 60 had secondary RP; 54 patients were classified as having ICTD, 35 of whom had ANA and 19 of whom did not. Of the 35 patients who had ICTD with ANA, 29 were women and six were men. Their clinical findings were as follows: 17 had nonerosive arthritis, 14 had a nailfold capillary scleroderma pattern, 12 had puffy fingers, 10 had anticentromere antibodies, nine had sicca syndrome, seven had pernio, seven had esophagitis, six had fingertip ulceration, five had telangiectasia, four had malar eruption, four had myalgia, four had weight loss, four had exertional dyspnea, and three had photo-sensitivity. No patient exhibited life-threatening visceral complications or antitopoisomerase antibodies.

In this series ICTD was more frequent than definite connective tissue disease. Many patients with RP have ICTD that is sometimes chronic.