Diagnosis of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease in a Patient With Digital Gangrene and Positive Antinuclear Antibodies.

Abstract

The occurrence of ischemia of the digits or digital gangrene is a well-known complication of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and anti-phospholipid syndrome, among others. The pathophysiological mechanisms are small vessel vasculitis, vasospasm of Raynaud's phenomenon, microthrombi due to antiphospholipid syndrome, and/or accompanying accelerated atherosclerosis. Digital ischemia can also occur in the context of disseminated bacterial infections and sepsis. We present here the case of a patient who had digital ischemia and positive antinuclear antibodies but without well-defined clinical features of a connective tissue disease. A diagnosis of undifferentiated connective tissue disease was made.

• Authors: Pradeep Ravi, Molly Mary Thabah, Rohan J Verghese, Sekar Dineshbabu, Tamilarasu Kadhiravan
• Journal: Cureus (Cureus) Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. e15883 (Jun 2021) ISSN: 2168-8184 [Print] United States
• PMID: 34336409 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021, Ravi et al.