Skip to main content
PMC home page
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases logoLink to Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
. 1982 Apr;41(2):147–152. doi: 10.1136/ard.41.2.147

The articular manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

M Baron, P Lee, E C Keystone
PMCID: PMC1000899  PMID: 7073343

Abstract

The articular manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were studied in 38 patients. Of these, 66% experienced joint pain and 61% had signs of joint inflammation. Limitation of joint movement was seen in 45%. Radiological abnormalities included periarticular osteoporosis (42%), joint space narrowing (34%), and erosions (40%). Erosive disease did not correlate with disease duration, presence of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, distal tuft resorption, or the extent of the scleroderma skin changes. Calcinosis was seen more frequently in those patients with articular erosions (67%). Erosive osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joints (7 patients) was associated with impaired finger flexion. Joint involvement in PSS occurs frequently and may resemble rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages but is less destructive. The occurrence of unrelated arthropathy, such as primary osteoarthritis, is not uncommon, and its differentiation from true PSS joint disease can be difficult.

Full text

PDF
152

Images in this article

149Image
on p.149
150Image
on p.150
150Image
on p.150
151Image
on p.151

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BEIGELMAN P. M., GOLDNER F., Jr, BAYLES T. B. Progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). N Engl J Med. 1953 Jul 9;249(2):45–58. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195307092490201. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Campbell P. M., LeRoy E. C. Pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis: a vascular hypothesis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1975 May;4(4):351–368. doi: 10.1016/0049-0172(75)90017-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ehrlich G. E. Inflammatory osteoarthritis. I. The clinical syndrome. J Chronic Dis. 1972 Jul 1;25(6):317–328. doi: 10.1016/0021-9681(72)90026-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Lovell C. R., Jayson M. I. Joint involvement in systemic sclerosis. Scand J Rheumatol. 1979;8(3):154–160. doi: 10.3109/03009747909114448. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Martel W., Stuck K. J., Dworin A. M., Hylland R. G. Erosive osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: a radiologic comparison in the hand, wrist, and foot. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1980 Jan;134(1):125–135. doi: 10.2214/ajr.134.1.125. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Medsger T. A., Jr, Masi A. T. Epidemiology of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Ann Intern Med. 1971 May;74(5):714–721. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-74-5-714. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. PIPER W. N., HELWIG E. B. Progressive systemic sclerosis; visceral manifestations in generalized scleroderma. AMA Arch Derm. 1955 Dec;72(6):535–546. doi: 10.1001/archderm.1955.03730360041004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. PLOTZ C. M., SINGER J. M. The latex fixation test. I. Application to the serologic diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Med. 1956 Dec;21(6):888–892. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Preliminary criteria for the classification of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Subcommittee for scleroderma criteria of the American Rheumatism Association Diagnostic and Therapeutic Criteria Committee. Arthritis Rheum. 1980 May;23(5):581–590. doi: 10.1002/art.1780230510. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. RODNAN G. P. The nature of joint involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis (diffuse scleroderma). Ann Intern Med. 1962 Mar;56:422–439. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-56-3-422. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rabinowitz J. G., Twersky J., Guttadauria M. Similar bone manifestations of scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1974 May;121(1):35–44. doi: 10.2214/ajr.121.1.35. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Resnick D., Greenway G., Vint V. C., Robinson C. A., Piper S. Selective involvement of the first carpometacarpal joint in scleroderma. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1978 Aug;131(2):283–286. doi: 10.2214/ajr.131.2.283. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Resnick D., Scavulli J. F., Goergen T. G., Genant H. K., Niwayama G. Intra-articular calcification in scleroderma. Radiology. 1977 Sep;124(3):685–688. doi: 10.1148/124.3.685. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Rodnan G. P., Medsger T. A. The rheumatic manifestaions of progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1968 Mar-Apr;57:81–93. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Schumacher H. R., Jr Joint involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma): a light and electron microscopic study of synovial membrane and fluid. Am J Clin Pathol. 1973 Nov;60(5):593–600. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/60.5.593. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. TUFFANELLI D. L., WINKELMANN R. K. Systemic scleroderma, A clinical study of 727 cases. Arch Dermatol. 1961 Sep;84:359–371. doi: 10.1001/archderm.1961.01580150005001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Wild W., Beetham W. P., Jr Erosive arthropathy in systemic scleroderma. JAMA. 1975 May 5;232(5):511–512. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wilde A. H., Mankin H. J., Rodman G. P. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in scleroderma. Arthritis Rheum. 1970 Jul-Aug;13(4):445–447. doi: 10.1002/art.1780130414. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES