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. 2002 Mar;61(3):237–241. doi: 10.1136/ard.61.3.237

Non-invasive measurement of biomechanical skin properties in systemic sclerosis

A Balbir-Gurman 1, C Denton 1, B Nichols 1, C Knight 1, A Nahir 1, G Martin 1, C Black 1
PMCID: PMC1754026  PMID: 11830429

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate biomechanical properties of skin in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using the BTC-2000 suction device.

Methods: Twenty five patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), 20 patients with diffuse disease (dcSSc), and 25 age matched healthy controls were evaluated. Viscoelastic deformation (VED, mm), elastic deformation (ED, mm), ultimate deformation (UD, mm), and pressure-deformation ratio (PDR, mm Hg/mm) were measured on the dorsal surface of the forearm, shoulder, and above the trapezius muscle on the back.

Results: Indices of skin extensibility (VED, ED, UD) were reduced and resistance to stress (PDR) increased in patients with dcSSc compared with healthy controls, or patients with lcSSc, at all three sites (p<0.001). At all sites, and overall, UD, ED, and VED were lower and PDR was higher at skin score above grade 2, compared with clinically normal skin. For both lcSSc and dcSSc biomechanical differences from controls were found even at sites of clinically normal skin.

Conclusion: BTC-2000 is a sensitive tool for clinical evaluation of skin involvement in SSc and may be a valuable adjunct to skin sclerosis score in disease monitoring.

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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Schematic representation of the BTC-2000 suction device. Simple schematic representation of the suction chamber, laser for measuring the skin dome height, and the arrangement of computerised analysis hardware for the BTC-2000.

Figure 2 .

Figure 2

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Relation between sclerosis score and biomechanical properties of skin. For each of the three skin areas assessed (forearm, shoulder, and back) the VED, UD, PDR and ED were compared for areas scored between 0 and 3. Representative histograms summarise data from forearm skin sites scored 0 (n=14), 0 (n=24), 2 (n=15), or 3 (n=8). Indices of skin deformity were lower at higher skin scores, whereas the PDR, reflecting stiffness, was increased. Data show means (SEM) and comparison is by Student's unpaired t test. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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