title: Comparison of clinical and serological parameters in female and male patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The course of systemic sclerosis (SSc) can differ in female and male patients. According to the literature the incidence rates of diffuse cutaneous SSc, scleroderma renal crisis and digital ulceration are higher in male patients. The aim of the study was to compare selected clinical and serological parameters in male and female patients with SSc.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study encompassed 101 European Caucasian patients with SSc, including 23 men, hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology. Patients fulfilled the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) classification criteria for SSc. The study groups of men and women were assessed according to the SSc subtype, incidence of internal organ involvement and presence of antinuclear antibodies considered SSc markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diffuse cutaneous (dc) SSc was observed more commonly in men than in women (13/23 vs. 25/78; p = 0.03). The time from the development of Raynaud's phenomenon to the diagnosis was significantly shorter in male compared to female patients (3.2 ±4.7 vs. 7.5 ±7.1; p = 0.01). The incidence of scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) was significantly higher (3/23 vs. 2/78; p = 0.04) and of other calcifications significantly lower in the male group compared to the female group (1/23 vs. 20/78; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that the incidence of dcSSc is higher in men compared to women. The time from the development of Raynaud's phenomenon to the diagnosis is shorter in the male compare to female group. The incidence of SRC is higher, whereas that of calcifications is lower in SSc men. The serological profiles of female and male patients with SSc are comparable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wielosz
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dryglewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suszek
keywords: clinical parameters; female; male; systemic sclerosis