Table 1

Demographic and clinical features of systemic sclerosis patients

dcSSc

lcSSc

Demographic and clinical features

Data

Range

Data

range

P-value

Number of patients

15

26

Age (yrs; mean; SD)

53 ± 13.1

28 to 71

52 ± 9.3

39 to 73

NS

M/F ratio

2/13

6/20

NS

Disease duration (yrs; mean; SD)

8 ± 3.3

2 to 15

8.5 ± 5.8

1 to 21

NS

Clinical manifestation

Raynaud phoenomenon

15 (100%)

23 (88%)

NS

Teleangectasias

10 (66%)

9 (35%)

NS

Lung involvement

13 (87%)

14 (54%)

NS

Oesophagus involvement

14 (93%)

9 (35%)

0.001

Trophic ulcers

10 (66%)

8 (31%)

0.06

Calcinosis

0

5 (19%)

NS

Serological findings

Anti-Scl-70

12 (80%)

10 (38%)

0.02

Anti-Centromere

0

6 (23%)

NS

Risk factor for CAD

Hypertension

4 (27%)

9 (35%)

NS

Diabetes

2 (13%)

2 (7%)

NS

Hypercholesterolemia

6 (40%)

4 (15%)

NS

Treatment

D-Penicillamine

3 (19%)

5 (19%)

NS

Cyclophosphamide

8 (50%)

0

0.0004

Cyclosporine

3 (19%)

3 (11%)

NS

Iloprost

13 (87%)

9 (35%)

0.003

Steroids

6 (37%)

2 (7%)

0.004

Calcium-blockers

3 (19%)

1 (3%)

NS

ACE-inhibitors

3 (19%)

1 (3%)

NS

Angiotensin II receptor blocker

2 (13%)

1 (3%)

NS

Vacca et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2013 15:R8   doi:10.1186/ar4136