Twenty-seven @entity1 with chronic, active, seronegative @entity625 were assessed clinically and serologically by accepted criteria for evidence of connective tissue diseases. The @entity1 were divided into 2 groups, 13 positive for fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) and 14 that were negative. All but 1 @entity1 fulfilled the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of @entity309 . Four @entity1 (2 in each group) fulfilled the preliminary criteria for the classification of @entity1252 . Antiperinuclear factor was positive in 5 of the FANA-negative @entity1 , consistent with a diagnosis of @entity309 . By contrast, this factor was absent in all the FANA-positive @entity1 . Positive DNA binding was found in 7 of the FANA-positive @entity1 , in high titre in 4, consistent with a diagnosis of 'minimal lupus' with predominantly 'unisystem' disease. DNA binding was positive in low titre in 2 of the FANA-negative patients. Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) were found in 4 @entity1 with a positive FANA and in only 1 FANA-negative @entity1 . The current clinical criteria showed poor discriminatory value in classifying cases of seronegative @entity625 , which may represent mild cases of other connective tissue disease presenting with @entity603 in the absence of @entity2760 manifestations.

Seronegative chronic XXXX : clinical and serological correlates.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity625 :: ('MESH:D001168', 'Disease') :: ['polyarthritis'] @entity1252 :: ('MESH:D008180', 'Disease') :: ['systemic lupus erythematosus'] @entity603 :: ('MESH:D013585', 'Disease') :: ['synovitis'] @entity2760 :: ('MESH:D011111', 'Disease') :: ['extra-articular disease'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis', 'definite rheumatoid arthritis']
@entity625 :: (MESH:D001168,Disease) :: ['polyarthritis']
