Anti-RNPC-3 antibody predicts poor prognosis in patients with interstitial lung disease associated to systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To analyse the prevalence, the clinical characteristics, the overall survival and the event-free survival (EFS) of SSc patients who express anti-U11/U12 RNP (RNPC-3) antibodies.

Methods: A total of 447 SSc patients from Barcelona (n = 286) and Milan (n = 161) were selected. All samples were tested using a particle-based multi-analyte technology.

Clinical features of systemic sclerosis patients with anti-RNA polymerase III antibody in a single centre in Spain.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical features and survival of patients with positive anti-RNA polymerase III (anti-RNAP III) in a Spanish single centre.

Methods: We analysed 221 patients with SSc according to LeRoy and Medsger criteria. Twenty-six patients with positivity for anti-RNAP III antibodies were compared with 195 negative patients.

Quantitative videocapillaroscopy correlates with functional respiratory parameters: a clue for vasculopathy as a pathogenic mechanism for lung injury in systemic sclerosis.

Background: To determine whether lung involvement is related to microvascular perturbations, nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) was performed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was consecutively accomplished in 152 SSc patients. NVC, a pulmonary function test and echocardiography were undergone within a 3-month period.

High sensitivity and negative predictive value of the DETECT algorithm for an early diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: application in a single center.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of the most relevant causes of death in systemic sclerosis. The aims of this study were to analyse the recently published DETECT algorithm comparing it with European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) 2009 guidelines: as screening of PAH; (2) identifying median pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) ≥21 mmHg; and (3) determining any group of pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: Eighty-three patients fulfilling LeRoy's systemic sclerosis diagnostic criteria with at least right heart catheterization were studied retrospectively.

Prognostic Role of Exhaled Breath Condensate pH and Fraction Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Systemic Sclerosis Related Interstitial Lung Disease.

Introduction: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the major causes of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study investigated exhaled breath (EB) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) biomarkers in patients with SSc and analyzed their role as a prognostic tool in SSc-related ILD.

Methods: Fraction exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) measured in EB, together with pH, nitrite, nitrate and interleukin-6 levels measured in EBC were prospectively analyzed in 35 patients with SSc.

Fast 1.5 T chest MRI for the assessment of interstitial lung disease extent secondary to systemic sclerosis.

This study aims to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess interstitial lung disease (ILD) extent in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients with SSc and varying degrees of ILD with a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and a chest MRI containing an ultrafast SE sequence performed less than 1 year apart were included in the study. Wells global disease extent and Goh's staging algorithm were used to measure and categorize ILD both for MRI and HRCT.

[Prognostic implications of extra-hepatic clinical manifestations, autoimmunity and microscopic nail capillaroscopy in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis].

Background And Objectives: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is associated to any systemic autoimmune disease (SAD), in particular systemic sclerosis (SSc). To investigate the prevalence of SAD in a cohort of patients with PBC, specifically the prevalence of SSc and its clinical subtypes, and determining the clinical and biological profile of patients with associated PBC and SSc.

Methods: Observational study of 62 patients with PBC following a protocol that included an anamnesis and physical examination to detect the presence of SAD as well as a nailfold capillaroscopy and an immunological study with specific SSc autoantibodies.

Age-related survival and clinical features in systemic sclerosis patients older or younger than 65 at diagnosis.

Objective: To analyse the differences in SSc clinical features and survival in patients aged > or = 65 years compared with young SSc patients.

Methods: Of a total of 319 SSc patients, we identified 67 (21%) patients aged >65 years. Demographical data such as SSc subsets, the cutaneous complaint, internal organ involvement and the causes of morbidity and mortality were collected.

Nailfold capillary microscopy in adults with inflammatory myopathy.

Objectives: To study the presence and characteristics of nailfold capillary changes in a cohort of adult patients with inflammatory myopathies, determine correlations with disease activity and severity, and investigate any relationship between capillary findings and the immunological or clinical characteristics of the groups.

Methods: Fifty-three consecutive adult patients followed in our outpatient clinic were evaluated using a Wild M3 stereomicroscope with an Intralux 5000 Volpi cold light lamp. A semiquantitative rating scale was used to score capillaroscopy changes.