Clinical Characteristics and Cancer as Complications in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Anti-RNA Polymerase Antibodies

Abstract

In this study, we examined the clinical characteristics of 12 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients (5 males and 7 females) with anti-RNA polymerase antibodies (anti-RNAP) among the 200 SSc patients who presented to our hospital from 1992 to 2013. The mean mRSS (modified Rodnan total skin thickness score) was 14.2. 6 patients (50%) met the SRC (Scleroderma renal crisis) criteria, and 5 patients (41%) had a history of cancer. The duration of scleroderma at the time of the cancer diagnosis was from -0.5 years to +8 years. It has been reported that anti-RNAP positive SSc patients have a greater risk for SRC, and recently reported that they increase the risk for cancer in a Caucasian population. Our study confirmed that Japanese patients with anti-RNAP antibodies were associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer.