Table 4.
Manifestations of definite SSc at routine examinations in early SSc and UCTD patients at follow-up
| Early SSc (n = 39) |
UCTD (n = 37) |
P† | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1° y | 2° y | 3° y | 4° y | 5° y | 1° y | 2° y* | ||
| Digital ulcers/scars | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 (12.8) | 0 | 1 (2.7) | |
| Teleangeactasias (≥2) | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 14 (35.9) | 0 | 0 | |
| Skin sclerosis | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 (10.2) | 0 | 0 | |
| mRSS (median, range) | - | 2 | 3.5 (2 to 8) |
3.5 (2 to 8) |
||||
| Chest X-ray bibasilar lung fibrosis | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 (5.1) | 0 | 1 (2.7) | |
| Esophageal dysmotility at barium X-ray | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 (7.7) | 3 (8.1) | ||
| Cardiac blocks and/or Q waves | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 (5.1) | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 30 (76.9) | 5 (13.5) | < 0.0001 | |||||
All data are expressed as numbers and percentages (in brackets). mRSS, modified Rodnan Skin Score; SSc, systemic sclerosis; UCTD, undifferentiated connective tissue disease; y, year. † statistical difference at the end of the follow-up period; *none of the UCTD patients developed further manifestations of definite SSc after the second year of follow-up.