[A case of rheumatoid arthritis associated with progressive systemic sclerosis and primary biliary cirrhosis in the presence of various autoantibodies].

The patient (a 49 year-old, female) had been diagnosed in Apr. 1987 as having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) following the history as chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis for 4 years. Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) were also defined on 1989 in the same patient mainly due to proximal scleroderma and histological findings of liver biopsy. On the other hand, the coexistence of rheumatoid factor, anti-Scl-70 antibody, anti-mitochondrial antibody (anti-MC, anti-MD and an unidentified fraction) and anti-centromere antibody have been observed with marked polyclonal hypergammopathy in her sera since July 1990. Her disease activity has been controlled well with the administration of D-penicillamine and ursodeoxycholic acid during recent clinical course. Few cases of RA associated with PSS and PBC, showing various autoantibodies as a disease marker in sera, have been reported. In order to evaluate the mechanisms of autoimmune disease especially chain reaction of autoimmunity, it should be important to accumulate the reports concerning such cases.