Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease: Comprehensive Review

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• Zucchi D, Tani C, Monacci F, Elefante E, Carli L, Parma A, et al. Pregnancy and undifferentiated connective tissue disease: outcome and risk of flare in 100 pregnancies. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020;59(6):1335–9. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez440. This study demonstrates that pregnant UCTD patients have less adverse pregnancy outcomes when compared to individuals with a established CTD. Nonetheless, careful evaluation is suggested given that a minority of patients can still develop complications.

• Radin M, Rubini E, Cecchi I, Foddai SG, Barinotti A, Rossi D, et al. Disease evolution in a long-term follow-up of 104 undifferentiated connective tissue disease patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2022;40(3):575–80. https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/7vp1bo. This single center study shows that up to 21% of UCTD patients progress to a definitive disease, results that are in line with our current report.

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•• Sciascia S, Roccatello D, Radin M, Parodis I, Yazdany J, Pons-Estel G, et al. Differentiating between UCTD and early-stage SLE: from definitions to clinical approach. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2022;18(1):9–21. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-021-00710-2. This review provides insight into key differences between UCTD and early SLE stages, additionally authors suggest a nomeclature for the SLE spectrum.

•• Drehmel KR, Erickson AR, England BR, Michaud KD, Sayles HR, Hearth-Holmes MP. Applying SLICC and ACR/EULAR systemic lupus erythematosus classification criteria in a cohort of patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Lupus. 2021;30(2):280–4. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961203320976939. This study demonstrates that UCTD patients can be reclassified as SLE (14 - 20%) after adopting the latest SLE criteria.

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