title: Are There Clinical Differences in Limited Systemic Sclerosis according to Extension of Skin Involvement?
abstract: Objectives. To examine the characteristics of our patients with limited systemic sclerosis (lSSc) for differences between Barnett Type 1 (sclerodactyly only) and Type 2 or intermediate (acrosclerosis-distal but may reach up to elbows and/or knees plus face) subsets. Methods. Records of patients between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2011, with SSc or those with anti-Scl-70, anticentromere, or antinucleolar antibodies were reviewed. Only cases fulfilling ACR 1980 criteria were included and classified as diffuse or limited according to LeRoy's criteria. Limited SSc was separated into sclerodactyly and acrosclerosis (Barnett's Types 1 and 2). Results. 234 SSc patients (216 females) fulfilled criteria. Female/male ratio was 12 : 1; 24% had dSSc and 76% lSSC (64% Type 1 and 12% Type 2). Total follow-up was 688 patient-years. Within lSSC, the Type 2 group had significantly shorter duration of Raynaud's and more anti-Scl-70 and less anticentromere antibodies. In particular, interstitial lung disease (ILD) was significantly more prevalent in Type 2 group and similar to Type 3. Conclusions. These results appear to confirm that extension of skin involvement within limited SSc may identify two different subsets with clinical and serologic characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scolnik
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Instituto Universitario Escuela de Medicina, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Catoggio
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mirtha R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sabelli
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Saucedo
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Medical Services, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Fundación Dr. Pedro M. Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatologia, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina ; Instituto Universitario Escuela de Medicina, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, 1181 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Enrique R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Soriano