title: [Special features of systemic sclerosis in men].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic sclerosis (SS) is a generalized disorder of connective tissue and microvasculature characterized by tissue fibrosis and obliteration of the vessels. Several features of systemic scleroderma in men are discussed in the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the initial clinical features, evolution and prognosis of systemic sclerosis in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with systemic sclerosis based on ACR's criteria were included. In this retrospective study we compared a cohort of men to a cohort of women, diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 in department of internal medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty four patients were included amongst which nine men. The mean follow-up duration was 39.5 months. A higher proportion of cardiac, renal and lung involvement were noted at diagnosis Localized cutaneous sclerosis was predominant in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work has highlighted several features of systemic sclerosis encountered in men. These results warrant confirmation by analyzing a larger population.
authors.affiliation: Service de medecine interne. Hopital Habib Thameur, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Besma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ben Dhaou
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Derbali
authors.forename: Zohra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aydi
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baili
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boussema
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ketari
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kochbati
authors.forename: Ouahida
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cherif
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rokbani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012737:Sex Factors