Subgroup analysis of admission mortality. SSc disease characteristics are based on the Medsger severity scale classification12. Data in bold face are statistically significant.
| Demographics | Death (%) Patients, n = 6 | No Death (%) Patients, n = 31 | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | 3 male | 4 male | 0.014 |
| Age | 62 ± 12 | 58.5 ± 13 | 0.52 |
| Race | 4 AA, 2 W | 10 AA, 21 W | 0.169 |
| Disease characteristics | Cases, n = 6 | Cases, n = 58 (%) | |
| Raynaud phenomenon | 3 | 37 (64) | 0.663 |
| Digital ulcers | 2 | 13 (22) | 0.621 |
| Interstitial lung disease | 2 | 15 (26) | 0.652 |
| Pulmonary arterial hypertension | 2 | 24 (41) | 1 |
| Esophageal involvement | 0 | 42 (72) | 0.001 |
| Gastric involvement | 0 | 17 (29) | 0.181 |
| Bacterial overgrowth | 0 | 9 (16) | 0.581 |
| Opioids (on admission) | 2 | 9 (16) | 0.278 |
| Promotility (on admission) | 4 | 29 (50) | 0.673 |
| Symptoms | |||
| Diarrhea | 0 | 9 (16) | 0.579 |
| Abdominal pain | 0 | 28 (48) | 0.031 |
| Nausea | 3 | 45 (77) | 0.159 |
| Weight loss | 1 | 9 (16) | 1 |
| Hematochezia | 0 | 1 (2) | 1 |
| Melena | 0 | 2 (3) | 1 |
| Fever | 0 | 4 (7) | 1 |
| Laboratory values | |||
| Hemoglobin | 9.9 ± 0.6 | 12 ± 2.1 | 0.00008 |
| White blood cell count | 11.2 ± 4.4 | 10.7 ± 5.8 | 0.831 |
| AST | 42 ± 48 | 36 ± 26 | 0.799 |
| ALT | 18 ± 6.4 | 33 ± 35 | 0.018 |
| Total bilirubin | 0.6 ± 0.05 | 0.78 ± 1.1 | 0.454 |
| ALP | 68 ± 33 | 124 ± 75 | 0.013 |
| Creatinine | 1.8 ± 1.8 | 1 ± 0.5 | 0.405 |
| Albumin | 2.5 ± 0.5 | 3.7 ± 0.9 | 0.001 |
| Lipase | 17 ± 8.5 | 86 ± 199 | 0.058 |
| Amylase | 71 ± 21 | 110 ± 66 | 0.03 |
| Treatment modality | |||
| NPO | 4 | 42 (72) | 0.629 |
| Surgery | 2 | 3 (5) | 0.065 |
| Nasogastric tube | 6 | 20 (34) | 0.003 |
| Prokinetic | 4 | 27 (47) | 0.419 |
| Antibiotics | 1 | 19 (33) | 0.653 |
| Intravenous fluids | 3 | 38 (66) | 0.658 |
| Total parenteral nutrition | 1 | 21 (36) | 0.655 |
| Outcome | |||
| Spontaneous resolution | 0 | 45 (76) | 0.0004 |
| Prolonged TPN | 0 | 16 (27) | 0.0001 |
| Days hospitalized | 27 ± 21 | 10.1 ± 9.9 | 0.098 |
SSc: systemic sclerosis; AA: African American; W: white; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; NPO: nil per os; TPN: total parenteral nutrition.