RAYNAUDS-PHENOMENON TOGETHER WITH ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES - A COMMON SUBSET OF INCOMPLETE CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISEASE

Background: The frequency of incomplete connective tissue disease (ICT D) is unknown. Objective: Our purpose was to determine the frequency o f Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in patien ts without definite connective tissue disease. Methods: A series of 16 5 consecutive patients with RP was investigated. Results: Fifty-one pa tients had primary RP; 60 had secondary RP; 54 patients were classifie d as having ICTD, 35 of whom had ANA and 19 of whom did not. Of the 35 patients who had ICTD with ANA, 29 were women and six were men. Their clinical findings were as follows: 17 had nonerosive arthritis, 14 ha d a nailfold capillary scleroderma pattern, 12 had puffy fingers, 10 h ad anticentromere antibodies, nine had sicca syndrome, seven had perni o, seven had esophagitis, six had fingertip ulceration, five had telan giectasia, four had malar eruption, four had myalgia, four had weight loss, four had exertional dyspnea, and three had photosensitivity. No patient exhibited life-threatening visceral complications or antitopoi somerase antibodies. Conclusion: In this series ICTD was more frequent than definite connective tissue disease. Many patients with RP have I CTD that is sometimes chronic.