Identification of a subset of patients with scleroderma with severe pulmonary and vascular disease by the presence of autoantibodies to centromere and histone.

OBJECTIVES: The role of autoantibodies in the investigation and management of rheumatic diseases is well recognised. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical significance of the co-occurrence of antibodies to centromere and histone in serum samples from patients investigated for systemic rheumatic diseases.
METHODS: Serum samples from 1316 consecutive patients were screened for antinuclear antibodies and the clinical findings in patients with antibodies to centromere alone were compared with those with antibodies to both centromere and histone.
RESULTS: Twenty six patients had antibodies to centromere. Fourteen patients had antibodies to centromere alone and 12 patients had antibodies to centromere and histone. Four of the 12 patients with antibodies to centromere and histone had diffuse scleroderma with severe pulmonary or vascular disease.
CONCLUSIONS: A subset of patients with scleroderma with antibodies to centromere and histone has been identified retrospectively, who have severe pulmonary or vascular disease. It will be of interest to follow up the clinical course of other patients with scleroderma who have both antibodies for the development of pulmonary or vascular disease.