The clinical relevance of autoantibodies in scleroderma.

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) is associated with several autoantibodies, each of which is useful in the diagnosis of affected patients and in determining their prognosis. Anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) and anti-Scl-70 antibodies are very useful in distinguishing patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) from healthy controls, from patients with other connective tissue disease, and from unaffected family members. Whereas ACA often predict a limited skin involvement and the absence of pulmonary involvement, the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies increases the risk for diffuse skin involvement and scleroderma lung disease.

The changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Context: Although it has been known for over 15 years that a number of rheumatic diseases occur in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, increasing knowledge about these disorders and advances in HIV treatment need to be considered in approaching patients with HIV-associated rheumatic disease.

Objective: To examine the clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic features of HIV-associated rheumatic diseases in the context of what is known about the immunology of HIV infection.

Data Sources: The author's own extensive collection of references, supplemented by PubMed Medline searches for articles in English-language journals published between 1985 and 2000.