80ACA = anti-centromere antibodies; aCL = anticardiolipin antibodies; AFA = antifibrillarin/anti-U3-RNP; ANA = anti-nuclear antibodies; ANCA = anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; ANoA = anti-nucleolar antibodies; anti-RNAP = anti-RNA-polymerase antibodies; anti-Sm = anti-Smith antibodies; aPL = antiphospholipid antibodies; β 2 gp I = β 2 glycoprotein I antibodies; CENP = centromeric nucleoprotein; CIE = counterimmunoelectrophoresis; CREST = a variant of SSc defined by the presence of calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangectasia; CTD = connective tissue diseases; dcSSc = diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis; DL CO = diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide; DM = dermatomyositis; ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FVC = forced vital capacity; HLA = human leukocyte antigen; IB = immunoblotting; ID = immunodiffusion; IIF = indirect immunofluorescence; IP = immunoprecipitation; lcSSc = limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis; MCTD = mixed connective tissue disease; PFT = pulmonary function tests; PM = polymyositis; PM/SSc = myositis/scleroderma overlap; RLD = restrictive lung disease; RNP = ribonucleoprotein; SLE = systemic lupus erythematosus; snRNP = small nuclear RNP; SSc = systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Research & Therapy Vol 5 No 2 Ho and Reveille IntroductionSystemic sclerosis (scleroderma or SSc) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by autoantibody subsets, which in turn have their own clinical associations. Much controversy resides in whether these autoantibodies contribute directly to the pathology seen in SSc or whether they are merely epiphenomena of the underlying disease process. Nevertheless, various autoantibodies found in patients with SSc carry significant value in diagnosis and in predicting clinical outcomes (Fig. 1). The autoantibodies classically associated with SSc include anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) and anti-Scl-70 (otherwise known as antitopoisomerase I or anti-topo I). In addition to these is the less commonly occurring anti-nucleolar antibody (ANoA) system, which comprises a mutually exclusive heterogeneous group of autoantibodies that produce nucleolar stain- AbstractScleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is associated with several autoantibodies, each of which is useful in the diagnosis of affected patients and in determining their prognosis. Anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) and anti-Scl-70 antibodies are very useful in distinguishing patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from healthy controls, from patients with other connective tissue disease, and from unaffected family members. Whereas ACA often predict a limited skin involvement and the absence of pulmonary involvement, the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies increases the risk for diffuse skin involvement and scleroderma lung disease. Anti-fibrillarin autoantibodies (which share significant serologic overlap with anti-U3-ribonucleoprotein antibodies) and anti-RNA-polymerase autoantibodies occur less frequently and are also predictive of diffuse skin involvement and systemic dise...

Smoking and disease activity emerged as important determinants in the occurrence of thrombotic events in our patients. Comprehensive treatment strategies should be directed to both smoking cessation and control of disease activity in patients with SLE.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nonadherence with study visits and with regularly scheduled clinic visits after adjusting for other patient and disease characteristics. One hundred and forty-one LUMINA patients with appointment data in the institutions' computerized systems (UAB and UTH) were studied. 'No shows' were assessed as the percentage of appointments not attended for either rheumatology, other clinics and LUMINA visits (from zero to 100%). Eighty-nine percent of the patients were women, 40% were Caucasians, 55% African-Americans and 5% Hispanics. 'No shows' to rheumatology were associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity, younger age, single marital status, lack of home ownership, 'no shows' to other clinics and to the LUMINA study, greater disease activity and to some disease manifestations (serositis, renal involvement, positive anti-dsDNA antibodies). In multivariable analyses, features predictive of rheumatology 'no shows' were lack of home ownership, 'no shows' to LUMINA study visits, renal involvement and serosal manifestations. Nonadherence with study visits and with regularly scheduled care at rheumatology clinics were associated. Other factors predictive of nonadherence to recommended care were lack of home ownership (a measurement of low socioeconomic status) and the presence of disease manifestations (i.e., renal or serosal involvement). These data should be considered when caring for patients with SLE.