Differences in clinical, instrumental and lung ultrasound data between patients with very early SSc and those with SSc
| Very early SSc (n=32) | SSc (n=26) | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 51±15 | 52±13 | 0.72 |
| Female (%) | 29 (91%) | 25 (96%) | 0.62 |
| Disease duration (years) | 1.9±3.2 | 5.9±9.9 | <0.05 |
| Scl-70 positivity (%) | 7 (22%) | 16 (62%) | <0.01 |
| FEV1/FVC (%) | 89±17 | 85±10 | 0.36 |
| TLC (%) | 105±26 | 77±13 | <0.001 |
| Dlco (%) | 79±15 | 63±19 | <0.05 |
| Dlco/Va (%) | 85±17 | 83±16 | 0.68 |
| Ejection fraction (%) | 65±4 | 60±5 | <0.01 |
| B-lines on anterior chest (n) | 8±11 | 22±21 | <0.01 |
| B-lines on posterior chest (n) | 10±12 | 44±40 | <0.001 |
| Total number of B-lines (n) | 18±21 | 66±57 | <0.001 |
Dlco/Va, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide/alveolar volume; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity; SSc, systemic sclerosis; TLC, total lung capacity.