Characteristics of 50 patients with systemic sclerosis
| ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; CO, carbon monoxide; CT, computed tomography; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; PAPs, systolic pulmonary artery pressure | |
| Cutaneous form of disease (limited/diffuse) (n (%)) | 29 (58%)/21 (42%) |
| Current digital ulcers (n (%) patients) | 14 (28%) |
| Pulmonary arterial pressure (mm Hg) (mean (SD) (range)) | 33 (8) (16 to 59) |
| PAPs ⩾40 mm Hg (n (%)/mean (SD) pressure) | 10 (20%)/47 (5) |
| Pulmonary fibrosis (CT scan) (n (%) patients) | 25 (50%) |
| Forced vital capacity <75% of normal values (n (%)) | 12 (24) |
| Decreased CO diffusing capacity (n (%) patients) | 20 (40) |
| Left ventricular ejection fraction (mean (SD)) | 63 (8) |
| Antinuclear antibodies (⩾1/160) (n (%)) | 43 (86) |
| Anti-Scl70 antibodies/anticentromere antibodies (n/n) | 14/10 |
| Anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG or IgM >15 IU) (n (%)) | 8 (16) |
| Serum creatinine (μmol/l) (mean (SD)) | 78 (13) |
| ESR (mm/hour) (mean (SD)) | 16.5 (15.4) |
| C reactive protein (mg/l) (mean (SD)) | 6.7 (5.9) |
| Ongoing low dose prednisone (n (mean (SD) mg/day) | 20 (7.4 (2)) |
| Ongoing ACE inhibitor treatment (n) | 9 |
| Ongoing antiaggregant treatment (n) | 34 |