Erosive Arthropathy in systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Background: To determine radiological features of arthropathy in systemic sclerosis patients with polyarthritis.

Overlap between systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis: a distinct clinical entity?

“…Meanwhile, Allali et al found radiographic changes in 80% of 46 patients with SSc who had arthritis, including joint space narrowing in 37% and erosions in 43% of these patients. 9 The same researcher found that the most common sites of occurrence of erosions were the proximal interphalangeal and radiocarpal joints. 9 In a cohort of 58 patients with SSc, Schmeiser et al found signs of arthritis in 31% of patients, with 19% being clinical and 26% radiological.…”

“…9 The same researcher found that the most common sites of occurrence of erosions were the proximal interphalangeal and radiocarpal joints. 9 In a cohort of 58 patients with SSc, Schmeiser et al found signs of arthritis in 31% of patients, with 19% being clinical and 26% radiological. In a meta-analysis of seven studies, we found a prevalence of 26% of radiologically detectable arthritis in patients with SSc.…”

“…5 A statistically significant correlation between the anti-CCP positivity and the presence of arthritis with marginal erosions in patients with SSc is described, which could aid in the diagnosis of overlap of SSc and RA, and enable appropriate treatment. 9 However, anti-CCP antibodies by themselves do not define rheumatoid arthritis, since the frequency of positivity of these antibodies in patients with SSc without arthritis is not known. 5 We found anti-CCP positivity in 20% of SSc patients with arthritis and present in 100% of patients with degenerative arthritis related to radiographic changes, versus no SSc patients without arthritis.…”

“…5 Although many radiographic changes have been identified in the joints of patients with SSc, important erosive arthropathy is considered unusual. 9 Synovial biopsies of the joints of patients with SSc showed evidence of varying severity of inflammation, and in most cases, an infiltrate of lymphocytes and plasma cells distributed diffusely in the tissue or collected in small focal aggregates was observed. 8 Unlike the findings observed in patients with RA, little or no tendency to the formation of pannus and intense synovial fibrosis later in the disease course was reported in SSc patients.…”

Diffuse Palpable Tendon Friction Rubs in a Patient with Seronegative Erosive Polyarthritis

“…While erosive arthritis can occur rarely in SSc [6], our patient had only Raynaud phenomenon and displayed no other features of SSc. He does fulfill 5 of the 7 ACR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).…”