Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies in systemic sclerosis: prevalence and clinical associations from a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
This study provides an overall seroprevalence of ARA of 9% [8-10] and confirms that SSc patients with ARA are at higher risk of severe skin extension and renal crisis. It also highlights a positive association with cancer, GAVE, heart, joint involvement and ILD.
Study context
- Population
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in studies in Pubmed and Embase up to June 2024
- Participants
- 23,038 patients93 studies
- Comparison
- ARA-positive vs ARA-negative SSc patients
- Outcome
- Overall ARA prevalence in SSc
Methodological detailsmeta-regression
- Meta-regression
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Overall seroprevalence of ARA
ARA positive
9%
95% CI 8–10
- Heterogeneity I2
- 88%, P < 0.001
Further pooled results
| Outcome | OR (CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativedcSSc | 2.20 (1.91–2.53) | |
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativeJoint manifestations | 1.29 (1.01–1.66) | |
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativeGAVE | 2.70 (1.52–4.81) | |
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativeHeart involvement | 1.93 (1.18–3.18) | |
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativeScleroderma renal crisis | 7.82 (5.79–10.57) | |
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativeILD | 1.10 (1.00–1.20) | |
| Clinical associations of ARA positivityARA positivevs ARA negativeCancer | 1.86 (1.33–2.59) | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies in systemic sclerosis: prevalence and clinical associations from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 17 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →