Lung Function Tests in Connective Tissue Diseases Associated with Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Respiration ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-230
Author(s):  
Yongyudh Ploysongsang ◽  
Baher S.I. Foad
2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 688-691
Author(s):  
Goran Plavec ◽  
Ilija Tomic ◽  
Sanela Bihorac ◽  
Gordana Kovacevic ◽  
Ljiljana Pavlica ◽  
...  

Background/Aim. Systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD) are chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorders of unknown cause that can involve different organs and systems. Their course and prognosis are different. All of them can, more or less, involve the respiratory system. The aim of this study was to find out the frequency of respiratory symptoms, lung function disorders, radiography and high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) abnormalities, and their correlation with the duration of the disease and the applied treatment. Methods. In 47 non-randomized consecutive patients standard chest radiography, HRCT, and lung function tests were done. Results. Hypoxemia was present in nine of the patients with respiratory symptoms (20%). In all of them chest radiography was normal. In five of these patients lung fibrosis was established using HRCT. Half of all the patients with SCTD had symptoms of lung involvement. Lung function tests disorders of various degrees were found in 40% of the patients. The outcome and the degree of lung function disorders were neither in correlation with the duration of SCTD nor with therapy used (p > 0.05 Spearmans Ro). Conclusion. Pulmonary fibrosis occurs in about 10% of the patients with SCTD, and possibly not due to the applied treatment regimens. Hypoxemia could be a sing of existing pulmonary fibrosis in the absence of disorders on standard chest radiography.


Author(s):  
Gavin Spickett

This chapter covers the presentation, immunogenetics, immunopathology, diagnosis, treatment, and testing for a range of connective tissue diseases. It covers a range of rheumatic disorders, from rheumatoid arthritis to Raynaud’s phenomenon, and also covers the undifferentiated diseases, overlap syndromes, and mixed connective tissue disease.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Ingegnoli ◽  
Roberta Gualtierotti ◽  
Annalisa Orenti ◽  
Tommaso Schioppo ◽  
Giovanni Marfia ◽  
...  

In patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), the role of medical history, capillaroscopy, and autoantibodies in order to provide an early diagnosis of connective tissue disease (CTD) were examined. 115 consecutive adults with uni-, bi-, or triphasic colour changes of the fingers were studied. RP was bilateral in 92.7% of patients. The middle finger was significantly more affected. A lack of association between fingers affected by RP and fingers with capillary abnormalities was observedOR=0.75(0.34–1.66). RP with the cyanotic phase had a higher risk at capillaroscopy to have hemorrhagesOR=4.46(1.50–13.30) and giant capillariesOR=24.85(1.48–417.44). The thumb and triphasic involvement have an OR of 1.477 and 1.845, respectively. RP secondary to systemic sclerosis (SSc) had greater value of VAS pain (p=0.011). The presence of anti-centromere antibodies was significantly associated with a higher risk of SSc (p<0.001). 44.3% of subjects had uniphasic blanching of the fingers, and among these, 27% was diagnosed as having an overt or suspected CTD. Markers of a potential development of CTDs include severe RP symptoms, positive autoantibodies, and capillary abnormalities. These data support the proposal to not discharge patients with uniphasic blanching of the fingers to avoid missing the opportunity of an early diagnosis.


2020 ◽  
pp. 25-30
Author(s):  
José Enrique Oliva Menacho ◽  
Jorge Luis Arroyo Acevedo ◽  
Jose Arturo Oliva Candela ◽  
Percy Genaro Salas Ponce ◽  
Marco Antonio Garcia Hjarles

Objectives: To determine the relationship of antibodies to extractable nucleus antigens and connective tissue diseases identified by Immunoblot in a hospital in Lima, Peru. Material and methods: Study of the observational type, basic sciences, analytical and trans-versal, carried out in the Immunology service of the national Hospital Archbishop Loayza between January 2018 and June 2018. We analyzed 291 clinical histories of patients with connective tissue disease and for the detection of antibodies to the extractable antigens of the nucleus the method of Immunoblot was employed. Results: The frequency of the antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens in patients with connective tissue disease identified by Immunoblot was 789 (100%). It was demonstrated that there is significant relationship p < 0.05 of Anti-histones (X2 = 64.19; p = 0,000), an-ti-nucleosomas (X2 = 71,16; p = 0,000), anti-dsDNA (X2 = 71,44; p = 0,000), anti-SM (X2 = 10,08; p = 0,003) and Lupus Systemic erythematosus with Pearson Chi-square test. It was demons-trated that there is significant relationship p < 0.05 of the Anti-SSA (X2 = 61,33; p = 0.001), anti-SSB (x2 = 51,00; p = 0.001), anti-Ro 52 (X2 = 62,60; p = 0,000) and Sjogren’s syndrome with Pearson Chi-square test. It was demonstrated that there is significant relationship p < 0.05 of Anti-CENP B (p = 0.001) and calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and Telangiectasia (CREST) with exact Fisher statistician. Conclusions: There is a relationship of antibodies to extractable nucleus antigens and systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and Telangiectasias (CREST), Scleroderma and Polymyositis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 696.1-697
Author(s):  
N. Azuma ◽  
T. Furukawa ◽  
Y. Shima ◽  
K. Matsui

Background:For patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD), vasodilators are used to treat Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), they are difficult to control only by medication. Although physicians recommend the use of a portable handwarmer or gloves to patients with CTD presenting with RP, sustained heat-retention effects cannot be obtained from them because the patients’ daily life-related activities prevent their continued use. Since the wrist mounted disposable heat pad maintains the degrees of freedom of the hands and fingers and can remain usable during the daily activities, we considered this heat pad as a useful and highly practical heating method for CTD patients presenting with RP.Objectives:To investigate the usability and changes in symptoms resulting from the use of the wrist mounted disposable heat pad in CTD patients presenting with RP.Methods:Subjects were 23 outpatients with CTD presenting with RP (23 females; mean age 62.6 years; mean duration following the onset of RP 10.3 years; 12 systemic sclerosis, 5 mixed connective tissue disease, 5 Sjögren’s syndrome, and 1 systemic lupus erythematosus) who had used the wrist mounted disposable heat pad (put the pad in a specifically designed holder and wrap it around wrist joint (max. temperature 42 degrees Celsius, heat-retention time 6 hours)). We investigated through interviews with them the use situations, usability, and changes in RP. During their using the heat pad, medication and daily life-related precautions against RP continued to be implemented as before.Results:Many patients had no knowledge of the heat pad (n=17, 73.9%). The most common wearing time of the heat pad was 5–6 hours (n=8, 34.8%). As for scenes of wearing the heat pad, patients who wore the pad when being out of the home accounted for the highest proportion (n=16, 69.6%), and as follows: at home (n=6, 26.1%), during kitchen work (n=3, 13.0%), and during housework (n=2, 8.7%). 17 patients (73.9%) replied that usability was “good”, and 18 (78.3%) replied that usability was “better” compared with conventional measures. Moreover, many patients (n=16, 69.6%) replied that RP and associated symptoms had become reduced or alleviated. No patients replied that RP and associated symptoms had become exacerbated or severer. In terms of advantages of using the heat pad, patients who replied that the site on which the pad was mounted was felt to be warm accounted for the highest proportion (n=8, 34.8%), and those who replied that sites other than where the pad was mounted (such as fingertips, hands, and arms) were also warmed accounted for virtually the same proportion (n=7, 30.4%). Over 60% of the patients (n=14, 60.9%) replied that symptoms associated with RP (skin color, cold sensation, and pain) had become reduced or disappeared. In terms of disadvantages of using the heat pad, patients who replied that it was bothersome to use the pad accounted for the highest proportion while other patients made replies referring to cost and bad appearance. No significant accident occurred and as many as 17 patients (73.9%) replied that they would like to continue to use the heat pad in the future.Conclusion:There have been few reports evaluating the usefulness of a heat pad for RP. The wrist mounted disposable heat pad was thought to be a heating method having the potential to achieve high levels of usability and practicality on CTD patients presenting with RP. Given that the heat pad alleviated RP or caused sites other than where the pad was mounted to be felt warm even though it did not directly heat the hands and fingers, the pad seemed to have usefulness attributed to the heating of the wrist. Although the heat pad seems to be an excellent method for addressing RP in patients’ daily lives, we hope that this heat pad will be evaluated on a larger number of patients with the addition of objective indices.References:[1]Koscheyev VS, et al. Aviat Space Environ Med. 72: 713-719, 2001.Disclosure of Interests:Naoto Azuma: None declared, Tetsuya Furukawa: None declared, Yoshihito Shima Grant/research support from: Endowed chair funded by/accepted a researcher from Kirikai Chemical and Kobayashi Pharmaceutical., Kiyoshi Matsui Grant/research support from: Asahi Kasei Pharma, Astellas Pharma (research grants), Speakers bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb (lecture fees)


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 686-686
Author(s):  
C. Pizzorni ◽  
G. Ferrari ◽  
C. Schenone ◽  
E. Gotelli ◽  
S. Paolino ◽  
...  

Background:Microvascular damage is a frequent feature in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and can be easily detected trough nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) (1,2). Mixed and Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (MCTD and UCTD) do not show a specific and unique NVC pattern (3). However, a variety of microvascular abnormalities can occur in these two CTDs, both non-specific or specific for the scleroderma like-pattern (3-5).Objectives:To retrospectively assess and compare nailfold microangiopathy observed by NVC in MCTD and stable UCTD versus primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP) (6). In addition, the aim was to correlate NVC findings with serum levels of autoantibodies (Abs) against extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) detected in UCTD.Methods:Files of fourty-six MCTD patients (Kasukawa’s criteria) (mean age 42.8±16 SD years), fourty-seven UCTD patients (mean age 47.7±16.1 SD years), fifty-one PRP (mean age 45.9±17.3 SD years) were retrospectively evaluated in the study. Among UCTD and MCTD patients 95% of both showed Raynaud’s phenomenon. Main NVC parameters (i.e. dilated capillaries, giant capillaries, microhemorrhages, abnormal shapes and number of capillaries) and related semiquantitative scale (score 0–3 for every parameter), were analyzed and compared between the two distinct CTD groups and PRP. Furthermore, ENA Abs (in particular, Ro/SSA, La/SSB, Scl70 and Jo1) were evaluated. The CTD patients were receiving different immunosuppressive treatments. Statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests.Results:Among UCTD group, 36% of patients showed a normal NVC pattern, 53% had non-specific NVC abnormalities and 11% had a scleroderma like-pattern. The latter was significantly more frequent in MCTD than in UCTD (p<0.001), in fact 22 out of 46 (48%) MCTD patients presented a scleroderma-like pattern. On the other hand, normal pattern or non-specific NVC abnormalities were respectively found in 9% and 43% MCTD patients. Therefore, CTD patients showing giant capillaries, abnormal shapes (i.e. angiogenesis) and lower capillary density were significantly more affected by MCTD than UCTD (p<0.001). Finally, the absolute number of capillaries was found significantly lower in MCTD versus UCTD patients (mean 7±1.7 SD vs mean 9.2±1 SD, respectively, p<0.001). Not any statistical correlation was observed between NVC parameters and specific Abs ENA in UCTD. PRP showed a normal NVC pattern in 2% and non-specific capillary abnormalities in 98%, (including dilated capillaries and microhemorrhages).Conclusion:NVC features in UCTD patients seem very close to the pattern observed in PRP (mostly non-specific capillary abnormalities), conversely in MCTD the scleroderma-like pattern was found significantly prevalent together with a significant capillary number reduction. The transition from the scleroderma-like to the scleroderma pattern (mean systemic sclerosis) is matter of actual investigation.References:[1]Cutolo M. et al. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2008; 22:1093-108.[2]Sulli A, Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;67:885-7.[3]Smith V. et al. Autoimmunity Reviews 2020; 19:102458.[4]De Holanda Mafaldo DA, et al. Lupus. 2007; 16:254–8.[5]Smith V, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2010; 69: 1092-96.[6]Antunes M, et al. RMD Open. 2019, 26;4.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-100
Author(s):  
Maame-Boatemaa Amissah-Arthur ◽  
Lily P. Wu

Raynaud’s phenomenon as a cause of acute limb ischaemia in the warmer climates of Sub-Saharan Africa region is uncommon because it is usually thought of as a disease common in cold weather. The prevalence of connective tissue diseases among Black Africans is increasing, and these conditions are associated with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon and ischaemic digital lesions. We present the case of a 36-year old female with dermatomyositis/systemic sclerosis overlap and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon who presented with acute limb ischemia (wet gangrene of all digits) in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana. Young patients presenting with acute limb ischaemia should also be screened for an underlying connective tissue disease. In patients with connective tissue disease, the onset of digital vasculopathy can be rapid and progressive, hence treatment must be prompt and comprehensive to enable better clinical outcomes.


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