title: Serum aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in progressive systemic sclerosis and localized scleroderma.
abstract: Sera from 31 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 5 patients with widespread localized scleroderma (LS), and 3 patients with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus were analyzed for aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) using a radioimmunoassay based on human propeptide. Thirty-eight per cent of the patients with PSS had levels above normal range, including all of the 3 patients with diffuse scleroderma. The same applies to 4 of 5 patients with widespread localized LS, while PIIINP in all 3 patients with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus were within normal levels. In patients with acrosclerosis, elevated PIIINP seems to be correlated to rapid progression and extension of lesions. A significant increase in PIIINP was found in a patient following discontinuation of prednisone and cyclophosphamide, while the present investigation did not allow judgement of effects of treatment with either penicillamine or cyclosporin A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Marselisborg Hospital, Arhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zachariae
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halkier-Sørensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heickendorff
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000097:blood*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide