PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Adrienne Bacher
AU  - Shikha Mittoo
AU  - Marie Hudson
AU  - Solène Tatibouet
AU  - the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group
AU  - Murray Baron
TI  - Systemic Sclerosis in Canada’s North American Native Population: Assessment of Clinical and Serological Manifestations
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.121212
DP  - 2013 Jul 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1121--1126
VI  - 40
IP  - 7
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/7/1121.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/7/1121.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2013 Jul 01; 40
AB  - Objective. Certain North American Native (NAN) populations are known to have higher rates of systemic sclerosis (SSc) compared to non-NAN; however, little is known of the specific disease characteristics in this population in Canada. This study compares the clinical and serological manifestations of SSc in NAN and white patients. Methods. This cross-sectional, multicenter study included subjects enrolled in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry between September 2004 and June 2012. Subjects were evaluated with complete medical histories, physical examinations, and self-questionnaires. Ethnicity was defined by self-report. Disease characteristics were compared between NAN and white patients and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the independent association between ethnicity and various clinical manifestations. Results. Of 1278 patients, 1038 (81%) were white, 71 (6%) were NAN, and 169 (13%) were classified as non-white/non-NAN. There were important differences between NAN and white subjects with SSc. In multivariate analysis adjusting for socioeconomic differences and smoking status, NAN ethnicity was an independent risk factor for the severity of Raynaud phenomenon and more gastrointestinal symptoms, and was associated with a nonsignificant increase in the presence of digital ulcers. Conclusion. NAN patients with SSc have a distinct clinical phenotype. Our study provides a strong rationale to pursue further research into genetic and environmental determinants of SSc.