title: Hyaluronic acid in progressive systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The glycosaminoglycans metabolism is disturbed in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Serum hyaluronic acid (HA) is elevated in this disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine the HA plasma concentrations of patients with PSS according to the different stages of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 48 patients divided into three subgroups: subgroup 1 (n = 10), with skin compromise without evidence of other organ involvement; subgroup 2 (n = 21), with skin and esophagus involvement; subgroup 3 (n = 17), with skin, lung and other internal organ involvement. A radiometric assay was performed for quantification of HA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results confirm the increase in plasma HA in patients with PSS. They also suggest that lung involvement is the main feature responsible for high plasma concentrations of HA. The plasma HA levels were elevated in patients compared to normals (p <0.001). Significant differences were observed between subgroups 1 and 3 (p <0.01) and between subgroups 2 and 3 (p <0.01). A positive correlation between disease severity scores and plasma HA values was observed (p <0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An important elevation of HA plasma levels could be a serologic marker of disease severity, progression and degree of visceral involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Emerit
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Manso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerra Rodrigo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid