Baseline characteristics of patients with SSc. Values are n (%) unless otherwise specified.
| Characteristics | SSc, n = 90 |
|---|---|
| Age, yrs, median (IQR) | 57 (47–67) |
| Females/males | 74 (82)/16 (18) |
| Disease duration, yrs, median (IQR) | 6 (3–12) |
| Diffuse/limited cutaneous subset | 40 (44)/50 (56) |
| mRSS > 14 | 30 (33) |
| Current or past DU | 18 (20) |
| PH confirmed by RHC | 4 (4) |
| Scleroderma renal crisis | 0 (0) |
| LVEF < 50% on echocardiography | 1 (0.01) |
| Pulmonary fibrosis on CT scan | 39 (43) |
| ESR > 28 mm/h | 18 (20) |
| CRP > 10 mg/l | 14 (16) |
| Serum creatinine, μmol/l, median (IQR) | 69 (35–80) |
| Positive ANA, > 1/160 | 81 (90) |
| Positive antitopoisomerase 1 antibodies | 31 (34) |
| Positive anticentromere antibodies | 21 (23) |
| FVC < 70% predicted | 32 (36) |
| DLCO < 70% predicted | 28 (31) |
| Calcium channel blockers | 90 (100) |
| Low-dose oral prednisone | 24 (27) |
| PDE5 inhibitors | 4 (4) |
SSc: systemic sclerosis; IQR: interquartile range; mRSS: modified Rodnan skin score; DU: digital ulcers; PH: pulmonary hypertension; RHC: right heart catheterization; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; CT: computed tomography; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; ANA: antinuclear antibodies; FVC: forced vital capacity; PDE5: phosphodiesterase Type 5.