Table 1.

Demographic, clinical, and immunological characteristics of systemic sclerosis patients, n = 43

Age, years	59 (44–65)
Male gender, n(%)	10 (23.3)
Body mass index, kg/m2	23.6 (22.2–26.1)
Smoking, currently or in the past, n(%)	15 (34.9)
Smoking, packs/years	0 (0–5)
Duration of the disease, years	6 (1–11)
Limited disease, n(%)	17 (39.5)
Diffuse disease, n(%)	26 (60.5)
The presence of antinuclear antibodies, n(%)	43 (100)
Anti-Scl-70 antibodies, n(%)	24 (55.8)
Anti-PM/Scl antibodies, n(%)	7 (16.3)
Anti-centromeric antibodies, n(%)	10 (23.3)
Anti-NOR antibodies, n(%)	2 (4.7)
Anti-Ro52 antibodies, n(%)	11 (25.6)
RNA polymerase III antibodies, n(%)	1 (2.3)
Anti-Th/To antibodies, n(%)	1 (2.3)
Anti-Ku antibodies, n(%)	1 (2.3)
Organ involvement
Digital ulcers, n(%)	14 (32.6)
Abnormal nailfold capillaries, n(%)	26 (60.5)
Telangiectasia, n(%)	12 (27.9)
Raynaud’s phenomenon, n(%)	41 (95.3)
Dysphagia, n(%)	10 (23.3)
Interstitial lung disease, n(%)	30 (69.8)
Pulmonary arterial hypertension, n(%)	10 (23.3)
Renal crisis, n(%)	1 (2.3)
Systemic sclerosis-specific therapy
Current corticosteroids therapy, n(%)	16 (37.2)
Current corticosteroid dose, mg per day (recalculated to methylprednisolone)	0 (0–4)
Systemic steroids therapy, years	0 (0–3)
Immunosuppressive treatment (currently or in the past)
Azathioprine, n(%)	5 (11.6)
Cyclophosphamide, n(%)	16 (37.2)
Methotrexate, n(%)	12 (27.9)
Mycophenolate mofetil, n(%)	5 (11.6)
Internal medicine comorbidities
Hypertension, n(%)	18 (41.9)
Diabetes mellitus, n(%)	3 (7)
Hypercholesterolemia, n(%)	18 (41.9)
Internist medications
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, n(%)	21 (48.8)
Statins, n(%)	13 (30.2)
Beta-blockers, n(%)	10 (23.3)
Diuretics, n(%)	10 (23.3)
Calcium channel blockers, n(%)	26 (60.5)

Categorical variables are presented as numbers (percentages), continuous variables as the median and interquartile range (25–75Q)

n number