Baseline characteristics of patients with SSc and HD
| SSc, n=24 | HD, n=12 | P value | |
| Gender, female/male | 23/1 | 10/2 | – |
| Age, years, mean±SEM | 57.4±2.5 | 43±2.7 | 0.0013* |
| Body mass index (kg/m2, mean±SEM) | 24.1±0.74 | 24.4±0.7 | 0.772 |
| CRP (median, 25–75th percentile) | 2.2 (1.1–6.2) | 1.7 (1–2.4) | 0.734 |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 92±3.6 | 102±8.3 | 0.204 |
| Cardiovascular risk factors (%) | |||
| Tobacco | 12.5 | 8 | |
| Diabetes | 0 | 0 | – |
| Arterial hypertension | 0 | 0 | – |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | 8 | 0 | 0.347 |
| Disease characteristics | |||
| Disease duration from diagnosis (years) | 6.7±0.9 | – | – |
| Early SSc disease <4 years | 3 (12.5%) | – | – |
| History of Raynaud’s phenomenon (years) | 10 (4.2–14.5) | – | – |
| SSc subclassification: diffuse vs limited (%) | 9 (37.5) vs 15 (62.5) | – | – |
| Medsger’s Severity Scale | 2 (2–3) | – | – |
| Total Modified Rodnan Skin Score | 10 (6.25–16.5) | – | – |
| Digital ulcers (active) | 29% | – | – |
| Cochin Hand Function Score | 39.8±1.8 | – | – |
| SHAQ score | 1.3±0.07 | – | – |
| Raynaud’s Condition Score | 5.2±0.5 | – | – |
| Total lung capacity (% of predicted value) | 93±3 | – | – |
| Forced vital capacity (% of predicted value) | 99±4 | – | – |
| Alveolar capillary diffusing capacity (% of predicted value) | 55±3 | – | – |
| Autoantibodies (% positive) | |||
| Antinuclear antibodies | 100 | – | – |
| Antitopoisomerase-1 antibodies (Scl70) | 30.4 | – | – |
| Anticentromere antibodies | 27.3 | – | – |
| Anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies | 30 | – | – |
| Systemic sclerosis medications, n, % | – | – | |
| Calcium-channel blockers, ongoing (previous) | 9, 37.5 (10, 41.7) | – | – |
| Bosentan, ongoing (previous) | 6, 25.0 (4, 16.7) | – | – |
| Prednisone <10 mg/day, ongoing (previous) | 8, 33.3 (1, 4.2) | – | – |
| Methotrexate, ongoing (previous) | 5, 20.8 (1,4.2) | – | – |
| Iloprost infusion, ongoing (previous) | 0, 0 (11, 45.8) | – | – |
Data are mean±SEM or median (25–75th percentile range) or n (%) of patients.
–, Not applicable in HD.
*P<0.05.
CRP, C reactive protein; HD, healthy donor; SHAQ, scleroderma health assessment questionnaire; SSc, systemic sclerosis.