Association of anti-centromere and anti-Scl 70 antibodies in scleroderma. Report of two cases

Abstract

In testing for antinuclear antibodies the sera of 121 patients affected with scleroderma, we found in 2 of them the concurrent presence of anti-centromere and anti-Scl 70 antibodies. Since the association of these antibodies has never been reported, to the best of our knowledge, we report the clinical and serological features of the 2 patients. Both subjects were women with an incomplete CREST syndrome (RST), a relatively limited involvement of the skin, a mild pulmonary fibrosis without apparent signs of other visceral involvement. On the other hand, the clinical course of the disease was different in the 2 cases. One patient had a longer disease duration and up to date the clinical features appear to be unchanged; the other had a shorter disease duration, when suddenly she died of cardiac arrest.