Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor Therapy in Erosive Polyarthritis Secondary to Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Silvia Bosello, Maria De Santis, Barbara Tolusso, Angelo Zoli, Gianfranco Ferraccioli
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters20 December 2005Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor Therapy in Erosive Polyarthritis Secondary to Systemic SclerosisSilvia Bosello, MD, Maria De Santis, MD, Barbara Tolusso, BS, Angelo Zoli, MD, and Gianfranco Ferraccioli, MDSilvia Bosello, MDFrom the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy., Maria De Santis, MDFrom the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy., Barbara Tolusso, BSFrom the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy., Angelo Zoli, MDFrom the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy., and Gianfranco Ferraccioli, MDFrom the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-143-12-200512200-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Background: Inflammatory arthritis can occur in patients with systemic sclerosis. In some cases, the condition is erosive and the patient is rheumatoid factor–seronegative, whereas some patients have rheumatoid arthritis that overlaps with diffuse (1) or limited (2) systemic sclerosis. Symptoms may not respond to corticosteroid or methotrexate therapy.Objective: To evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors in a subset of patients with erosive polyarthritis secondary to systemic sclerosis.Methods and Findings: The study enrolled 4 consecutive patients with systemic sclerosis that fulfilled the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR); all patients ...References1. Horiki T, Moriuchi J, Takaya M, Uchiyama M, Hoshina Y, Inada K, et al. The coexistence of systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in five patients. Clinical and immunogenetic features suggest a distinct entity. Arthritis Rheum. 1996;39:152-6. [PMID: 8546724] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Zimmermann C, Steiner G, Skriner K, Hassfeld W, Petera P, Smolen JS. The concurrence of rheumatoid arthritis and limited systemic sclerosis: clinical and serologic characteristics of an overlap syndrome. Arthritis Rheum. 1998;41:1938-45. [PMID: 9811047] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Fabris M, Tolusso B, Di Poi E, Assaloni R, Sinigaglia L, Ferraccioli G. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor II polymorphism in patients from southern Europe with mild-moderate and severe rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2002;29:1847-50. [PMID: 12233877] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Gruschwitz MS, Albrecht M, Vieth G, Haustein UF. In situ expression and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors in patients with early stages of systemic sclerosis. J Rheumatol. 1997;24:1936-43. [PMID: 9330935] MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Scala E, Pallotta S, Frezzolini A, Abeni D, Barbieri C, Sampogna F, et al. Cytokine and chemokine levels in systemic sclerosis: relationship with cutaneous and internal organ involvement. Clin Exp Immunol. 2004;138:540-6. [PMID: 15544634] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Silvia Bosello, MD; Maria De Santis, MD; Barbara Tolusso, BS; Angelo Zoli, MD; Gianfranco Ferraccioli, MDAffiliations: From the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.Disclosures: None disclosed. 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