Early Mortality in a Multinational Systemic Sclerosis Inception Cohort.

Objective: To determine mortality and causes of death in a multinational inception cohort of subjects with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: We quantified mortality as standardized mortality ratio (SMR), years of life lost, and percentage mortality in the first decade of disease. The inception cohort comprised subjects recruited within 4 years of disease onset.

Clinical correlates of monospecific anti-PM75 and anti-PM100 antibodies in a tri-nation cohort of 1574 systemic sclerosis subjects.

Objective: Autoantibodies directed against the two principal antigens of the human exosome complex, PM75 and PM100, are present in systemic sclerosis (SSc) sera and have been associated with myositis and calcinosis. However, there is a paucity of data on the clinical correlates of these autoantibodies separately and in the absence of other SSc-specific antibodies. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical correlates of monospecific anti-PM75 and anti-PM100 in SSc.

The Canadian Systemic Sclerosis Oral Health Study IV: oral radiographic manifestations in systemic sclerosis compared with the general population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare oral radiologic abnormalities associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) against abnormalities in the general population.

Study Design: Patients with SSc and healthy controls were enrolled in a multi-site cross-sectional study. Included in the radiology examination were a panoramic radiograph, four bitewings, and an anterior mandibular periapical radiograph.

Thinking outside the box--The associations with cutaneous involvement and autoantibody status in systemic sclerosis are not always what we expect.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and survival of anti-topoisomerase antibody positive (ATA+) limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and anti-centromere antibody positive (ACA+) diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) patients in a large, multicenter SSc cohort.

Methods: Data from subjects in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) cohort were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the baseline characteristics, including sociodemographic, clinical and serological features of lcSSc and dcSSc, according to ATA+ and ACA+ subsets.

Relationship between disease characteristics and orofacial manifestations in systemic sclerosis: Canadian Systemic Sclerosis Oral Health Study III.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) is associated with decreased saliva production and interincisal distance, more missing teeth, and periodontal disease. We undertook this study to determine the clinical correlates of SSc with these oral abnormalities.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group cohort.

The Canadian systemic sclerosis oral health study II: the relationship between oral and global health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Both oral and global health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are markedly impaired in SSc. In this study we aimed to determine the degree of association between oral HRQoL and global HRQoL in SSc.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry.

Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma: a multicenter study of 1417 subjects.

Objective: To describe the clinical and serological features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a multicentered SSc cohort.

Methods: Data from 1417 subjects in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry were extracted to identify subjects with ssSSc, defined as SSc diagnosed by an expert rheumatologist, but without any sclerodactyly or skin involvement prior to baseline study visit or during followup. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc subjects were compared to limited (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) subjects.

2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League against rheumatism classification criteria for systemic sclerosis outperform the 1980 criteria: data from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the sensitivity of the new 2013 classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) in an independent cohort of SSc subjects and to assess the contribution of individual items of the criteria to the overall sensitivity.

Methods: SSc subjects from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group cohort were assessed. Sensitivity was determined in several subgroups of patients.

Absence of an association between anti-Ro antibodies and prolonged QTc interval in systemic sclerosis: a multicenter study of 689 patients.

Objective: To examine the association between anti-Ro antibodies, namely anti-Ro60/SS-A and anti-Ro52/TRIM21, together and separately, and a prolonged QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods: A total of 689 SSc patients enrolled in a multicenter cohort study underwent a 12-lead resting EKG at baseline. The QTc interval was measured, and a QTc ≥ 440ms was considered prolonged.

Clinical and serologic correlates of anti-PM/Scl antibodies in systemic sclerosis: a multicenter study of 763 patients.

Objective: Anti-PM/Scl autoantibodies are found in polymyositis, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic autoimmune disease overlap syndromes. PM-1α is a major epitope of the PM/Scl complex, and antibodies against PM-1α can be detected using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and identify the clinical correlates of anti-PM-1α antibodies in a large cohort of patients with SSc.

The role of rheumatologists vis-à-vis assessment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis.

This study was designed to estimate the burden of care that would be placed on rheumatologists to undertake cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment of traditional CV risk factors in their patients. This cross-sectional study was set in a rheumatology ambulatory clinic of a tertiary care, university hospital. Consecutive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were recruited over 6 weeks and matched 1:1 on age and sex to patients with non-inflammatory problems who presented to the same clinic.

The Canadian systemic sclerosis oral health study: orofacial manifestations and oral health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis compared with the general population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare oral abnormalities and oral health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with SSc with the general population.

Methods: SSc patients and healthy controls were enrolled in a multisite cross-sectional study. A standardized oral examination was performed.

Consensus opinion of a North American Working Group regarding the classification of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis.

The objectives of this study were to develop a standard classification of digital ulcers (DUs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) for use in observational or therapeutic studies and to assess the reliability of these definitions as well as of the measurement of ulcer area. Ten North American rheumatologists with expertise in SSc reviewed multiple photos of DUs, examined four SSc subjects with DUs, and came to a consensus on the definitions for digital, active, healed, and indeterminate ulcers. These ten raters then examined the right hand of ten SSc subjects twice and the left hand once to classify ulcers and to measure ulcer area.

Exposure to ACE inhibitors prior to the onset of scleroderma renal crisis-results from the International Scleroderma Renal Crisis Survey.

Objective: To determine whether exposure to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prior to the onset of scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) leads to worse outcomes of SRC.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of incident SRC subjects. The exposure of interest was ACE inhibitors prior to the onset of SRC.

Comparison of different measures of diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in systemic sclerosis.

In systemic sclerosis (SSc), impaired diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) can indicate interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and/or other disease manifestations, including anemia. We undertook this study to compare the various measures of DLCO in the setting of a complex disease like SSc. We analyzed the pulmonary function tests of a cohort of SSc subjects, as a whole and among subjects with isolated PH and ILD separately.

Systemic sclerosis in Canada's North American Native population: assessment of clinical and serological manifestations.

Objective: Certain North American Native (NAN) populations are known to have higher rates of systemic sclerosis (SSc) compared to non-NAN; however, little is known of the specific disease characteristics in this population in Canada. This study compares the clinical and serological manifestations of SSc in NAN and white patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional, multicenter study included subjects enrolled in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry between September 2004 and June 2012.

Clinical correlates of CENP-A and CENP-B antibodies in a large cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To study the clinical phenotypes of centromeric proteins (CENP)-A- and CENP-B-positive patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to compare them to anticentromere antibody (ACA)-positive and negative SSc patients.

Methods: Sera samples were collected from 802 patients with SSc enrolled in a multicenter cohort study. Antibodies to CENP-A and B were detected by ELISA, and ACA by indirect immunofluorescence.

Clinical significance of antibodies to Ro52/TRIM21 in systemic sclerosis.

Introduction: Autoantibodies to Ro52 recently identified as TRIM21 are among the most common autoantibodies in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, but their clinical association remains poorly understood. We undertook this study to determine the clinical and serologic associations of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 antibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Detailed clinical data and sera from 963 patients with SSc enrolled in a multicenter cohort study were collected and entered into a central database.