JACCOUDS ARTHROPATHY OF THE HANDS IN OVERLAP SYNDROME

The objective of this work was to evaluate the frequency and features of Jaccoud's syndrome of the hands in patients with overlap syndrome. Twenty-three patients with overlap syndrome were prospectively evaluat ed by means of a complete physical examination, serological assessment , and hand X-rays. The presence of Jaccoud's syndrome was defined by K ahn's criteria, Patients with or without Jaccoud's arthropathy were co mpared in their clinical, serological and radiological features. Five out of 23 patients (21.7%) presented Jaccoud's syndrome. Clinical and serological features of patients with or without the syndrome proved s imilar except for alignment abnormalities, which by definition were mo re frequent in the group with Jaccoud. A significantly greater number of patients meeting diagnostic criteria for SLE were observed in the J accoud group (80% versus 21%; p=0.03). There was no other disease or a ssociated condition such as chronic renal failure or high-dose steroid treatment concomitant with the development of Jaccoud's syndrome. It may be concluded that in patients with overlap syndrome, Jaccoud's art hropathy seems to be more frequent in patients who meet criteria for S LE.