Comparison of real-time PCR and nested PCR for the detection of Y chromosome sequences in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with systemic sclerosis

Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) is a sensitive technique that has been recently applied to the determination and quantification of fetomaternal microchimerism.1–3 In a previous manuscript, we detected the presence of Y chromosome sequences in female patients with systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE) using nested PCR.4 In the present study we evaluated the presence of Y chromosome sequences in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of female patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using nested and RT-PCR, correlating the results with the clinical and serological manifestations of the patients.