Table 1. Characteristics of systemic sclerosis patients and their age, menopause and BMI matched paired controls *.
| Demographics | |||
| Age, years (mean±SD) | 63.2±10.2 | 62.9±10,4 | NS |
| BMI, kg/m2 (mean±SD) | 24.7±4.9 | 25.6±5.0 | 0.029 |
| Duration of menopause, years (mean±SD) | 15.4±11.4 | 13.9±9.7 | NS |
| Menopause, n (%) | 28 (85) | 28 (85) | NS |
| Current smoking, n (%) | 2 (6) | 4 (12.1) | NS |
| Alcohol, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | NS |
| Personal history of fracture, n (%) | 10 (30.3) | 5 (15.1) | NS |
| Family history of hip fracture, n (%) | 5 (15.1) | 3 (9.1) | NS |
| Treatment, n (%) | |||
| Prednisone | 6 (18.2) | 0 (0) | |
| Osteoporosis treatment | 12 (36.4) | 0 (0) | |
| Calcium and / or vitamin D | 20 (60.6) | 18 (59.4) | |
| Inhibitor of proton pump | 26 (78.8) | 4 (12) | < 0.01 |
| Methotrexate | 2 (6) | 0 (0) | |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 7 (21.2) | 0 (0) | |
| History of cyclic intravenous prostanoids | 10 (30.3) | 0 (0) | |
| Cyclophosphamide | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Biology, n (%) | |||
| CRP (>10 mg/l) | 1 (3) | ND | |
| Vitamin D deficiency (< 10 ng/ml) | 2 (6) | ND | |
| Vitamin D insufficiency (10-30 ng/ml) | 18 (54.5) | ND | |
| Parathyroid hormone (>61 ng/l) | 4 (12.1) | ND | |
| Calcemia (<2.2 or >2.6 mmol/l) | 0 (0) | ND | |
| ANA | 33 (100) | ND | |
| ACA | 20 (60.6) | ND | |
| Antitopoisomerase (anti-Scl70) | 4 (12.1) | ND | |
| Anti-RNA polymerase III | 0 (0) | ND | |
| Disease Characteristics | |||
| Disease duration, years (mean±SD) | 9.5±8.4 | NA | |
| Skin involvment subset, n (%) | |||
| limited cutaneous | 26 (78.8) | NA | |
| diffuse cutaneous | 3 (9.1) | NA | |
| limited sine scleroderma | 4 (12.1) | NA | |
| Current digital ulcers, n (%) | 12 (36.4) | NA | |
| History of digital ulcers, n (%) | 21 (63.6) | NA | |
| Organ involvment, n (%) | |||
| gastrointestinal involvment | 24 (72.7) | NA | |
| malabsorption syndrome | 0 (0) | NA | |
| lung disease | 9 (27.2) | NA | |
| pulmonary hypertension | 4 (12.1) | NA | |
| scleroderma renal crisis | 0 (0) | NA | |
| joint damage | 26 (78.8) | NA | |
| Raynaud's syndrome | 33 (100) | NA | |
| HAQ (n = 32) (mean±SD) | 0.833±0.830 | NA |
*
SD = standard deviation; n = number; HAQ = Health Assessment Questionnaire; BMI = body mass index; CRP = C reactive Protein; ANA = anti nuclear antibody; ACA = anticentromere antibody; ND = not determined; NA = not applicable.