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Systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis overlap syndrome - management of severe cardiac, pulmonary and articular involvement

Pinto AS, Santos FC, Dinis SP, Madeira N, Ferreira JF, Vaz C

Reumatologia, 2023

3 citations

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of another rheumatological condition in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is not uncommon. To report a case of a patient with SSc-RA overlap and perform a review of the cases reported in the literature.

Material and methods: A chart review of the present case report was performed. After, we performed a literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases.

Results: We included 26 articles. Sixty-three patients were reviewed, 51 were female with a mean age of 45.03 years at the time of the first diagnosis. Sixty-three patients were diagnosed with limited cutaneous SSc. Regarding organ involvement, the most frequently reported were cutaneous, vascular, pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement. Erosions were presenting 65.08% of patients. A panoply of treatments was used.

Conclusions: The authors concluded that screening for an associated disease should be encouraged since the overlap with SSc may affect prognosis and treatment.

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Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

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