Table 1 Clinical characteristics of 36 patients with systemic sclerosis

Organ involvement

   Joint contractures

16 (44%)

   Esophageal hypomotility

24 (67%)

   Cardiac involvement

1 (3%)

   Renal involvement

1 (3%)

   Interstitial lung disease

22 (62%)

   Pulmonary arterial hypertension

1 (3%)

   Digital pitting scars

18 (50%)

Systemic sclerosis-related autoantibodies^a

   Anti-topoisomerase I

16 (44%)

   Anticentromere

7 (19%)

   Anti-RNA polymerase III

2 (6%)

   Anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein

7 (19%)

   Anti-Th/To

2 (6%)

   Not identified

5 (14%)

Medications reported when blood samples collected

   Prednisolone (≤10 mg/day)

11 (31%)

   Cyclophosphamide

1 (3%)

   Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

5 (14%)

   D-Penicillamine

3 (8%)

   Oral prostanoid

19 (53%)

   Calcium channel blocker

2 (6%)

   Statin

6 (17%)

   Anti-platelet aggregation

6 (17%)

   Antacid

12 (33%)