Systemic sclerosis in Argentina: evaluation of a large cohort from a single centre and comparison with other international series

CER7473
2014 Vol.32, N°6 ,Suppl.86
PI 0094, PF 0097
Clinical aspects

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PMID: 25198424 [PubMed]

Received: 03/04/2014
Accepted : 03/06/2014
In Press: 08/09/2014
Published: 04/11/2014

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Prevalence of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and different clinical subsets varies across the world. Few data have been published on SSc patients in Latin America. Our objective was to describe a SSc cohort in Argentina and to compare clinical findings, disease subsets and antibodies with other international SSc populations.
METHODS:
Patients with SSc (n=234) seen at the Rheumatology section of the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires between 2000–2011 were retrospectively analysed. Data on clinical manifestations, disease subsets and antibodies were obtained. Patients were classified into diffuse cutaneous (dc) and limited cutaneous (lc) subsets. Comparison with other cohorts (France, United States, Germany, Italy, Mexico, EUSTAR and Brazil) was made based on published information.
RESULTS:
A higher female:male ratio (12:1) and a higher limited subset prevalence (76.1%) was found in this Argentine cohort comparing with others. We also found a lower prevalence of diffuse disease, anti Scl-70 (antitopoisomerase) and nucleolar pattern antinuclear antibodies. Within each subset, clinical findings were similar with other SSc populations except for a very low prevalence in renal crisis (0.02% of dc SS).
CONCLUSIONS:
With slight variations perhaps due to genetic, environmental or referral factors, SSc in this cohort appears to be similar to that described in other parts of the world.