title: Exposure to solvents in female patients with scleroderma.
abstract: The role of exposure to solvents was investigated in female patients with connective tissue disease and Raynaud's phenomenon using a questionnaire. Sixteen out of the 63 patients with systemic sclerosis had been exposed to solvents. A borderline significance was demonstrated compared to matched female controls (P < 0.05). Fourteen out of the 66 patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, 18/86 of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, 6/45 with systemic lupus erythematosus, 1/16 with dermatopolymyositis, 1/15 with rheumatoid arthritis and 0/13 with primary Sjögren's syndrome had been exposed to solvents. None of these groups of patients showed a statistical significance compared to matched controls. Our present findings indicate that, at least in certain areas of the world, exposure to solvents may be a provoking factor in female scleroderma, but it must be emphasised that only a borderline significance was found between the scleroderma patients and controls. A large multicenter study seems to be required to clarify the importance of solvents as provoking factors of scleroderma. Furthermore, exposure to solvents does not seem to be a provoking factor among females for the other connective tissue diseases.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Unit, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Hungary. laszlo.czirjak@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Czirják
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kumánovics
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents