Nailfold capillaroscopy changes associated with anti-RNP antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

Anti-U1RNP antibody is associated with distinct organ involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) allows non-invasive assessment of microvascular abnormalities in several connective tissue diseases. The objective of this study is to determine the association of anti-U1RNP antibody with microvascular changes by NFC in RNP-positive SLE patients in comparison with RNP-negative SLE patients (negative disease controls) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) cases (positive disease controls). NFC examination was performed in consecutive patients with SLE with or without anti-U1RNP positivity. MCTD patients were recruited as disease controls. Abnormalities noted in the three groups were compared using non-parametric tests. Ordinal logistic or linear regression was used wherever applicable. 81 patients were studied, of whom 28 were diagnosed as RNP-positive SLE (age 30.0 +/- 10.37; 26 females), 26 were RNP-negative SLE (age 29.42 +/- 9.20; 25 females) and 27 had MCTD (age36.5 +/- 9.70; 25 females). RNP-positive SLE patients had more frequent giant capillaries, enlarged capillaries and ramified capillaries as compared to RNP-negative SLE (p = 0.05, < 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). The capillary density was lower in patients with MCTD as compared with patients with RNP-positive SLE (5.11 +/- 1.69/mm vs 7.25 +/- 1.38/ mm, p < 0.01) and RNP-negative SLE (8.92 +/- 1.13/mm, p < 0.01). The reduction in capillary density was less severe in patients with RNP-negative SLE as compared with RNP-positive SLE (OR = 0.1058 [95% CI = 0.02-0.546], p < 0.01) which was independent of the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon, interstitial lung disease and disease duration. Presence of anti-U1RNP antibody is associated with notable patterns of microvascular abnormalities in SLE. These NFC abnormalities are noted more profoundly in patients with MCTD and are less marked in RNP-negative SLE patients.