Which antibodies are associated with Scleroderma, particularly the CREST variant?

Anticentromere antibodies are specifically associated with the CREST variant of scleroderma, which is characterized by the clinical features of Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasia. The presence of these antibodies is a notable serological marker that correlates with the limited cutaneous form of scleroderma, commonly referred to as the CREST syndrome.

Patients with this form of scleroderma often exhibit milder symptoms compared to those with diffuse scleroderma, and the presence of anticentromere antibodies is particularly useful in differentiating between the two variants. Other antibodies mentioned, such as anti-topoisomerase (which is associated with diffuse scleroderma) or anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies (linked to Goodpasture syndrome), do not correspond to the CREST variant. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) can be seen in various autoimmune disorders, including scleroderma, but they are not specific and do not provide the same level of diagnostic precision for the CREST subset.

Thus, the presence of anticentromere antibodies is the most pertinent finding when considering scleroderma, especially in the context of