Association of RNA Polymerase III Antibodies with Scleroderma Renal Crisis

Abstract

To the Editor: The study by Cordullo, et al investigated the prevalence of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related autoantibodies among SSc patients with scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) in Italy. The authors report that the majority of the SRC patients had anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I) antibody (30/46, 65%), whereas a minority of patients (7/46, 15%) had anti-RNA polymerase III (RNAP)1. We reviewed cases of SRC in the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository (Registry) in the USA, which consisted of 1029 patients with SSc at the time of analysis. All patients fulfilled American College of Rheumatology preliminary classification criteria2 or had at least 3 of the 5 features of CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia); the diagnosis was verified by medical record review. The Registry database included demographic features, clinical disease characteristics, including extent of skin involvement, and autoantibody … Address correspondence to Dr. Nguyen. E-mail: Binh.Nguyen{at}uth.tmc.edu