Isolated DLco/VA reduction in systemic sclerosis patients: a new patient subset?

Introduction: Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) reduction is the first detectable pulmonary functional test (PFT) change in systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related pulmonary complications. reduction in patients without cardiopulmonary alterations has also been observed; a good characterisation of these patients is lacking. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of SSc patients with isolated DLco reduction and compare these patients to SSc patients with DLco reduction with a known cause.

The functional polymorphism 844 A>G in FcαRI (CD89) does not contribute to systemic sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.

Objective: To investigate the role of the Fc(α)RI 844 A>G functional polymorphism in the genetic predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility.

Methods: The study population was composed of 1401 patients with SSc, 642 patients with RA, and 1317 healthy controls. The Fc(α)RI (CD89) single-nucleotide polymorphism rs16986050 was genotyped by pyrosequencing.

Functional variants of Fc gamma receptor (FCGR2A) and FCGR3A are not associated with susceptibility to systemic sclerosis in a large European Study (EUSTAR).

Objective: To investigate the possible role of FCGR2A 519A>G and FCGR3A 559A>C functional polymorphisms in the genetic predisposition to susceptibility to systemic sclerosis (SSc) or clinical phenotype.

Methods: A total of 1566 patients with SSc and 2271 geographically matched controls were included in our study. We analyzed the genotype and allele frequencies of the FCGR2A 519A>G and FCGR3A 559A>C functional variants in 6 independent European cohorts of white patients with SSc, and white controls.