title: Prospective evaluation of frequency of signs of systemic sclerosis in 76 patients with morphea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some authors consider that morphoea and systemic sclerosis (SSc) could be part of the same disease spectrum. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of signs indicative of SSc in a cohort of patients with morphoea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective multi-centre study performed in four French academic dermatology departments: 76 patients with morphoea and 101 age- and sex-matched controls, who underwent complete clinical examination, were enrolled. A systemic search for signs indicative of SSc (e.g. Raynaud's phenomenon, reflux) was performed with the help of a standardised questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 58 women and 18 men (ration=3/1) with a median age of 59 years. Mean age at diagnosis was 54 years (extremes, 13-87). 49 subjects had plaque morphoea, 9 had generalised morphoea and 18 had linear morphoea. Mean duration of morphoea was 7.9 years. Signs possibly indicative of SSc were noted in four patients of the control group and in 8 patients with morphoea. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.129). Further investigations ruled out SSc in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Signs indicative of SSc are statistically not more frequently present in patients with morphoea than in controls and this study does not support the view that those 2 entities are part of a common disease spectrum.
authors: Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Médecine, Clinique Dermatologique, Strasbourg, France. dan.lipsker@chru-strasbourg.fr.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Lipsker
authors: Université Montpellier I, Service de Dermatologie, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Bessis
authors: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Cosnes
authors: Departments of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Kluger
authors: Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Médecine, Clinique Dermatologique, Strasbourg, France.
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Lutz
authors: Service de Santé Publique, Groupe méthode en recherche clinique, Biostatistiques et Méthodologies, Université de Strasbourg, CHU Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Sauleau
authors: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Tenon, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Paris, France.
authors: Camille
authors: C
authors: Francès
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult