Clinical and laboratory features of Japanese patients with scleroderma and telangiectasia.
BACKGROUND
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by sclerotic changes of the skin and internal organs. Telangiectasia is a frequent complication of patients with SSc.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalance of telangiectasia in patients with SSc and investigate the clinical and laboratory features of patients with SSc and telangiectasia.


METHODS
In total, 211 patients with SSc who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for SSc of the American College of Rheumatology were examined by laboratory and clinical methods. The average of disease duration time was 7.4 years.


RESULTS
Telangiectasia was found in 119 of the 211 patients (56%) with SSc. The prevalence of oesophageal involvement, decreased diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), heart involvement, calcinosis, shortening of the sublingual frenulum, or pitting scars was significantly greater in patients with telangiectasia than in those without telangiectasia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the presence of telangiectasia may be a marker of oesophageal involvement, decreased DLCO, and heart involvement.
Ashida
R
R
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Ihn
H
H
Mimura
Y
Y
Jinnin
M
M
Asano
Y
Y
Kubo
M
M
Tamaki
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult