Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction associated with autoantibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen

Autoantibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) have been detected almost exclusively in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Because of the extremely low prevalence of anti-PCNA, however, it has been difficult to establish its disease specificity and clinical associations. We present 2 cases in which patients with anti-PCNA developed severe gastrointestinal dysfunction that led to chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction. Neither patient had manifestations suggestive of SLE. Although sclerodermatous skin changes were minimal or absent in these patients, physical and radiographic findings indicated that systemic sclerosis was a likely cause of the gastrointestinal dysfunction. The similarity of the clinical features in these patients implies that the unusual detection of this unique autoantibody may not be a coincidence.