From the Guidelines
The Benton criteria are not mentioned in the provided evidence, and based on the available information, the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis should be used for evaluating connective tissue disorders, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, as outlined in the study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2012 1.
The 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis provide a score-based algorithm to classify patients with rheumatoid arthritis, which includes joint involvement, serologic findings, acute phase reactants, and duration of symptoms. The criteria require a score of 6/10 for definite classification, with joint involvement, serologic findings, and acute phase reactants being key components of the classification system.
Some key points to consider when evaluating patients with suspected connective tissue disorders include:
- Joint involvement, including the number and location of affected joints, as outlined in the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria 1
- Serologic findings, such as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibody, which can help distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other connective tissue diseases 1
- Acute phase reactants, such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which can indicate the presence of inflammation 1
- Duration of symptoms, which can help determine the chronicity of the disease 1
When evaluating a patient with suspected connective tissue disease, a thorough history and physical examination should be performed, along with appropriate laboratory tests, including complete blood count, urinalysis, and autoantibody panels. The 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria provide a standardized approach to diagnosis, though clinical judgment remains essential as some patients may have atypical presentations or incomplete manifestations of disease 1.
From the Research
Benton Criteria for Connective Tissue
There are no research papers to assist in answering this question regarding the Benton criteria for connective tissue. However, the provided studies discuss various topics related to connective tissue diseases, such as:
- The sensitivity and specificity of ANA and anti-dsDNA in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus 2
- The importance of ANA testing in the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases 3
- The prevalence of anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor in systemic sclerosis patients 4
- The reliability and updated norms of the Benton Controlled Oral Word Association Test, which is unrelated to connective tissue diseases 5
- The interrater and intrarater reliability of the Beighton score, used to assess hypermobility in patients with hypermobility spectrum disorder 6
Some key points from these studies include:
- The sensitivity and specificity of ANA and anti-dsDNA in SLE patients, using sera from healthy controls and patients with multiple medical problems 2
- The importance of understanding and interpreting ANA test results in the context of rheumatic diseases 3
- The relationships between anti-CCP antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and joint manifestations in systemic sclerosis patients 4
- The updated norms and reliability of the Benton Controlled Oral Word Association Test, which may be useful in neuropsychological assessments 5
- The high reliability of the Beighton score in assessing hypermobility, with substantial to excellent inter- and intrarater reliability 6