Manisha Jethwa1, Hita Mehta2
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to study the clinical and immunological profile of patients with newly detected connective tissue disease presented to a tertiary care centre.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study involved 51 patients with newly-detected Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (fulfilling the revise SLICC criteria for SLE) and Systemic Sclerosis (SS), Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD), etc. attending Sir. T. Hospital, Bhavnagar, between January 2013 and December 2016. All patients were assessed for clinical features and immunological profile.
RESULTS Out of the 51 patients, 30 having SLE, 10 having SS, 9 with MCTD, 1 with dermatomyositis and 1 with Rowell’s syndrome. Among them, 47 were females and 4 were males. The mean age at presentation was between 15-25 years. The LE-specific skin lesions were noted as malar rash in 25 patients (83%), subacute and acute lupus rashes (80%) and discoid rash (13%). Among LE-nonspecific lesions, non-scarring alopecia was most common followed by oral ulcers, Raynaud’s phenomenon, joint pain, scarring alopecia, erythema multiforme, livedo reticularis, vasculitic lesions, urticaria and calcinosis cutis were seen. In MCTD, muscle weakness was common finding. In systemic sclerosis, hide-bound skin and decreases mouth opening were seen in all cases and Raynaud’s phenomenon, joint pain, hair loss, calcinosis cutis and respiratory system involvement were other features. Serum ANA was positive in 76% while negative in 3.8% of individuals. The most common pattern observed in ANA profile was speckled (56%) followed by homogenous (32%) and nucleolar (28%).
CONCLUSION There is diversity in clinical presentation of autoimmune connective tissue disease with regards to their genetic and environmental backgrounds. Cutaneous features are utmost important having diagnostic and prognostic value as well.
