Jaccoud’s arthropathy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: One centre study

Jaccoud’s arthropathy (JA) is a chronic, deforming, non-erosive arthropathy occurring in a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this research we aimed to evaluate clinical and immunological features in patients with SLE complicated by JA. Eighty seven consecutive SLE patients with a history of arthritis were included in the present study. These patients were subdivided according to “Jaccoud’s arthropathy index” as follows: non-deforming arthropathy, mild deforming and definite Jaccoud. Demographic data, disease activity and disability were recorded. Rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACL), antiSSA/Ro, and anti SSB/La antibodies, were assessed in all patients. We found clinical deforming arthropathy in 12 patients, among whom seven had definite JA. Both the mean duration of the disease and of arthritis were longer in the JA group compared to the non-deforming arthropathy group. JA patients presented a trend toward a lower quality of life. The prevalence of Sicca syndrome (SS) and antiphospholipid syndrome were significantly higher in the JA group than in the patients with non-deforming arthropathy (p = 0.011 and 0.012, respectively). ACL and RF were more frequent among patients with JA (p = 0.013 and 0.036; respectively). These data suggest that JA is not rare and represents a subset of SLE with specific clinical and serological features. Future studies are needed to reveal the pathogenesis, the genetic association, the prevention, the stabilization and the appropriate cure for these patients.