A study of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with systemic sclerosis at a single center in Baghdad
Keywords:
Systemic sclerosis, Interstitial lung disease, Diffuse systemic sclerosisAbstract
Background In patients with systemic sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune illness, the immune system becomes dysregulated, blood vessels are damaged, and organs and skin become fibrotic. Biomarkers are essential in clinical practice because they allow for accurate diagnosis, the prediction of disease development, and the assessment of the effectiveness of treatment. The aim of the study is to determine the variety aspects of clinical and epidemiological factors of Iraqis’ systemic sclerosis. Methods A cohort of 39 individuals diagnosed with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) were involved in the current cross-sectional investigation. The research was carried out from December 15, 2022, to May 30, 2023, utilizing a specifically crafted questionnaire. Results Overall, 100% of the people who took part had thicker skin. Following this were Raynaud's phenomenon (97.5%), abnormal nail fold capillaries (94.9%), telangiectasia (85.8%), oral puckering, dysphagia, and puffy fingers (79.5%), and finally shortness of breath and sclerodactyly (77%). Additionally, 73.8% of participants had ILD, and 19.0% had pulmonary hypertension. ANA positivity was seen in 90% of the patients. There is a strong association between the presence of anti-Sc1-70 antibodies and DcSSc. In the limited form, only one case (2.56%) tested positive, while 23 cases (58.97%) tested positive. This association was shown to be statistically significant with a p-value < 0.001. Patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (LcSSc) were much more likely than those with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (DcSSc) to have anti-centromere antibodies (ACA), with rates of 17.95% for LcSSc and 10.25% for DcSSc (p = 0.037). Conclusion SSc has a higher frequency among the female population. Typically, the first clinical manifestation is Raynaud's phenomenon, but other symptoms may manifest at any stage of the disease's unpredictable course.References
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