Early systemic sclerosis: short-term disease evolution and factors predicting the development of new manifestations of organ involvement

Table 2 Preclinical alterations of heart, lung and esophageal function in early SSc and UCTD patients

	Early SSc (n= 39)	UCTD (n= 37)	P
E/A ratio <1*	2/31 (6.5)	1/26 (3.8)	ns
DLCO <80%	11/39 (28.2)	10/37 (27)	ns
FVC <80%	1/39 (2.6)	1/37 (2.7)	ns
Basal LES pressure <15 mmHg	11/36 (30.6)	4/27 (14.8)	ns
One or more functional alteration	19/39 (48.7)	14/37 (37.8)	ns

*not alternatively explained. All data are expressed as numbers and percentages (in brackets). DLCO, diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide; E/A ratio <1, inverted ratio between early (E)/late (atrial = A) ventricular filling velocity; FVC, forced vital capacity; LES, low esophageal sphincter; SSc, systemic sclerosis; UCTD, undifferentiated connective tissue disease