TY - JOUR T1 - Relationship between occupational risk factors and severity markers of systemic sclerosis. JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1713 LP - 1718 VL - 32 IS - 9 AU - Julie Magnant AU - Michèle de Monte AU - Jean-Louis Guilmot AU - Gérard Lasfargues AU - Patrice Diot AU - Elisabeth Asquier AU - Danielle Degenne AU - Eric Boissinot AU - Elisabeth Diot Y1 - 2005/09/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/32/9/1713.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate a potential association between occupational risk factors and severity markers of systemic sclerosis (SSc) defined by diffuse cutaneous extent, pulmonary involvement, and immunologic profile, i.e., presence of antitopoisomerase I antibody (anti-topo I). METHODS: Occupational exposures were assessed in 105 patients with SSc from 1998 to 2002. Exposures to silica dust, welding fumes, solvents, and epoxy resins were investigated. A group of 39 exposed SSc patients and a group of 66 unexposed ones were identified and compared according to severity markers of SSc. The stage of cutaneous extent was defined according to the classification of Leroy, as limited scleroderma (lSSc) or diffuse scleroderma (dSSc). Respiratory status was defined by pulmonary function tests and high resolution computed tomography. Immunological profile was determined by the presence of anti-topo I or anticentromere antibodies (ACA). Statistical relationships between occupational exposures and severity markers of SSc were evaluated using a multiple correspondence analysis and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Diffuse scleroderma affected mainly patients exposed during their occupational life to toxic agents. There were significant or close to significant associations between toxic exposure and dSSc (p = 0.06), pulmonary involvement (p = 0.10), and negative ACA (p = 0.03). The most incriminated products seemed to be epoxy resins (p = 0.06), white spirit (p = 0.07), aromatic solvents (p = 0.07), and silica coupled to welding fumes (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that occupational toxic factors have an influence on the severity of SSc. ER -