Classification of Japanese patients with mild/early systemic sclerosis (SSc) by the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc.
OBJECTIVE
To classify Japanese patients with mild/early systemic sclerosis (SSc) by the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Classification Criteria (new 2013 criteria).


METHODS
We assessed 120 patients who visited Kanazawa University Hospital suspected of SSc and who did not meet the 1980 ACR preliminary classification criteria for SSc. We clinically diagnosed 16 patients with primary Raynaud's disease and 104 with mild/early SSc prior to being assessed by the new 2013 criteria.


RESULTS
None of the 16 patients with primary Raynaud's disease met the new 2013 criteria. On the other hand, 94 out of the 104 patients (90.3%) with mild/early SSc by our clinical diagnosis met the new 2013 criteria. Among the 94 SSc patients, sclerodactyly was detected in 58 (62%), puffy fingers in 62 (66%), abnormal nailfold capillaries in 89 (95%), Raynaud's phenomenon in 93 (99%), and SSc-related autoantibodies (Abs) in 85 (90%). The median (range) score of these 94 patients was 12 (9-14). Ten mild/early SSc patients who did not meet the new 2013 criteria had the following clinical features: puffy fingers in 1 (10%), abnormal nailfold capillaries in 8 (80%), Raynaud's phenomenon in 9 (90%), and SSc-related autoAbs in 8 (80%). The median (range) score of these 10 patients was 7 (5-8).


CONCLUSIONS
The new 2013 criteria can classify most mild/early Japanese SSc patients, which may contribute to early treatment interventions.
a Department of Molecular Pathology of Skin, Faculty of Medicine , Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan and.
Yuka
Y
Ikawa
a Department of Molecular Pathology of Skin, Faculty of Medicine , Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan and.
Yasuhito
Y
Hamaguchi
b Department of Rehabilitation , Kanazawa University Hospital , Kanazawa , Japan.
Naoki
N
Mugii
a Department of Molecular Pathology of Skin, Faculty of Medicine , Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan and.
Takashi
T
Matsushita
a Department of Molecular Pathology of Skin, Faculty of Medicine , Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan and.
Kazuhiko
K
Takehara
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards
New classification criteria; Raynaud’s phenomenon; Systemic sclerosis