Table 1

 Clinical features of the patients with systemic sclerosis and the healthy controls

VariableTotal SSc (n = 19)lSSc (n = 10)dSSc (n = 9)HC (n = 6)p Value (SSc v HC)
ANA, antinuclear antibody; CRP, C reactive protein; dSSc, diffuse systemic sclerosis; ESR, erythrocytic sedimentation rate; F, female; FEV1, forced expiratory volume; FVC, forced vital capacity; HC, healthy controls; lSSc, limited systemic sclerosis; M, male; RF, rheumatoid factor; SSc, systemic sclerosis.
*Values are mean (SD).
Age (years)*34. 8 (2.6)37.6 (15.7)33.6 (8.5)33.03 (7.2)NS
Sex (female: male ratio)18:19:19:05:1NS
Duration (years)*04.8 (3.5)05.2 (3.9)4.5 (3.8)
Arthralgia/Arthritis8/19 (42.1%)04/10 (40%)04/9 (44%)Absent<0.05
Raynaud’s phenomenon19/19 (100%)10/10 (100%)09/9 (100%)Absent<0.05
Pulmonary functions*
    FVC60.9 (15.4)63.01 (16.3)58.0 (13.3)94.4 (7.7)<0.05
    FEV166.1 (16.1)54.4 (22.1)55.0 (13.9)95.2 (10.3)<0.05
    FEV1/FVC91.5 (10. 4)92.1 (6.6)86.5 (16.8)97.5 (6.9)NS
Proteinuria3/19 (15.8%)01/10 (10%)02/9 (22%)Absent<0.05
ESR*
    First hour27.4 (16.3)30.5 (19.5)25.4 (15.2)08.5 (5.1)<0.05
    Second hour52.0 (22.1)54.7 (3)50.3 (20.2)13.3 (20.1)<0.05
Positive RF05/19 (26.3%)03/10 (30%)02/9 (22%)Absent<0.05
Positive CRP05/19 (26.3%)02/10 (20%)03/9 (33%)Absent<0.05
Positive ANA19/19 (100%)10/10 (100%)09/9 (100%)Absent<0.05