title: Long-term follow-up study of 164 patients with definite systemic sclerosis: classification considerations.
abstract: To evaluate the usefulness of recently proposed schemes of classification for systemic sclerosis an extensive cross-sectional study of a series of 164 consecutive patients with long-term systemic sclerosis was undertaken. There were 47 cases of proximal sclerosis, 93 of distal sclerosis and 24 of complete CREST syndrome. The study included clinical, visceral, immunological and follow-up data. In addition, a quantitative clinical score was calculated for each patient, thus providing indications for prognosis. Data were expressed according to three conventional systems of classification: The ARA system, the diffuse versus limited systemic sclerosis system and the early cutaneous involvement system. The most reliable indications of severe outcome were: proximal sclerosis, trunk skin involvement, presence of anti Scl 70 autoantibody, pulmonary and/or heart involvement and age. Diagnosis and prognosis were not generated by the same items. Prognosis indicators proved more accurate for groups than for individuals. Mortality was 1 death per 149 patient X years of follow-up from diagnosis. We conclude that the ARA criteria for classification should be recognized as a standard, but patients with complete CREST syndrome should be included in the distal group. Other systems of classification, principally 2-way versus 3-way criteria, allow different subsets of patients that correlate with prognosis and the severity of the disease, and could be used for therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Broussais Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vayssairat
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baudot
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abuaf
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johanet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies