Karin Popovic, Marie Wahren-Herlenius, Filippa Nyberg
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-0473

Patients with Ro/SSA autoantibodies can develop cutaneous lupus erythematosus and photosensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate disease progression and clinical outcome in Ro/SSA-positive patients after 2 years in a prospectively followed cohort. A total of 102 previously clinically and serologically characterized Ro/SSA-positive patients received a questionnaire 2 years after the baseline investigation. Evaluation of 98 questionnaire responses was performed and clinical exami­nation was offered to patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus established at baseline, or skin symptoms developed over the 2 year period since baseline. Skin symptoms (42%) and arthralgia (31%) were common self-reported health-related answers. Twenty of the 98 patients (20%) showed disease progression with development of new diagnoses such as drug-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This prospective study reveals that new autoimmune diseases and skin disease progress are common in Ro/SSA-positive patients also in the short-term perspective, and stresses the importance of regular follow-up of these patients.