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Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease in which organ damage is characterised by fibrosis, microvascular occlusion, and proliferation of the vascular intima. The reported prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in SSc varies from 0 to 25%,1–7 and reports of clinical associations have been variable.3,4,6,7 To our knowledge, only one study has examined antibodies to β2 glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) in SSc and shown a correlation with pulmonary hypertension and raised mean pulmonary artery pressure.8 In our study we examined the frequency of aβ2GPI and aCL in SSc and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP).
Twenty six patients with SSc (16 diffuse, 10 limited), 23 with RP, and 21 healthy volunteers (employees at the research facility) were included in this retrospective study. Informed consent was obtained. All 16 patients with diffuse SSc and one patient with limited SSc patients met American Rheumatism …