Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40310587›Full record

Observational studyClinical and experimental medicine2025

Evolutionary trajectory of undifferentiated connective tissue disease and impact of 2019 EULAR/ACR systemic lupus erythematosus classification criteria: insights from a longitudinal study.

Claudia Ciancarella, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Licia Picciariello, Francesco Natalucci, Alessandra Ida Celia, Cristina Garufi, Silvia Mancuso, Giuseppe Tripodi, Simona Truglia, Angelica Gattamelata and 3 more

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical and experimental medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Claudia Ciancarella *Lupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy. claudia.ciancarella@uniroma1.it.
Fulvia Ceccarelli *Lupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Licia PicciarielloLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Francesco NatalucciLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Alessandra Ida CeliaLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Cristina GarufiLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Silvia MancusoLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe TripodiLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Simona TrugliaLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Angelica GattamelataLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Francesca Romana SpinelliLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Cristiano AlessandriLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Fabrizio ContiLupus Clinic, Rheumatology, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular, Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is a condition characterized by serological evidence of autoimmunity and occurrence of clinical symptoms suggestive for systemic autoimmune diseases, yet not fulfilling specific classification/diagnostic criteria. In the present longitudinal, observational, retrospective study, we aimed at analysing the evolution of UCTD course, focussing on the impact of 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Since 2008 we consecutively collected data about UCTD patients. All subjects were evaluated every six months, to record the development of clinical and laboratory features suggestive for specific autoimmune diseases. Finally, we retrospectively applied the 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE classification criteria at the first and last visit in our outpatient clinic. All the patients included in the study had been evaluated at our Lupus Clinic before the release of 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria. We included 201 UCTD patients [F/M 191/10, median age at first visit 46 years (IQR 21), median disease duration at first visit 3 years (IQR 9)]. At the first visit, 27 patients (13.4%) already met 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE classification criteria. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated the association between SLE classification and thrombocytopenia, anti-dsDNA/anti-Sm positivity, low C4 levels, joint involvement. During a mean observation period of 45.9 ± 35.6 months, 18.9% of patients were lost to follow-up, while 141 patients were followed. At last visit, additional 11 patients (7.8%) could be classified as having SLE. A relevant proportion of UCTD patients could be reclassified as having SLE according to the most recent classification criteria. Thrombocytopenia, anti-DNA/anti-Sm positivity and low C4 levels represent the most associated factors.

Indexed as

Lupus Erythematosus, SystemicUndifferentiated Connective Tissue DiseasesAdultAntibodies, AntinuclearDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesAntibodies, AntinuclearClassification criteriaEvolutionSystemic lupus erythematosusUndifferentiated connective tissue disease

Identifiers

PMID40310587
PMCPMC12045818

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