PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Michael Hughes AU - Jack Wilkinson AU - Tonia Moore AU - Joanne Manning AU - Paul New AU - Graham Dinsdale AU - Andrea Murray AU - Ariane L. Herrick TI - Thermographic Abnormalities are Associated with Future Digital Ulcers and Death in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis AID - 10.3899/jrheum.151412 DP - 2016 Jun 15 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - jrheum.151412 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2016/06/09/jrheum.151412.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2016/06/09/jrheum.151412.full AB - Objective Capillaroscopic abnormalities are predictive of future digital ulcers (DU). Our aim was to investigate whether functional digital vascular disease (thermographically assessed) is also associated with future DU. Methods A retrospective case note review of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) undergoing thermography and who were followed for up to about 3 years. Results There were 138 patients (equal mixture of normal/abnormal thermography). Patients with abnormal thermography were more likely to develop DU (clinician-observed and/or patient-reported, OR 2.84, p = 0.021), including multiple episodes, and more likely to die (OR 5.42, p = 0.050). Conclusion Abnormal thermography is associated with DU and disease severity in patients with SSc.