The inclusion of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in a sensitive screening strategy for systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension: a cohort study

Table 2 Comparison of clinical characteristics between study groups

Characteristics	PAH (mean ± SD)	No PH (mean ± SD)	ILD-PH (mean ± SD)	LHD-PH (mean ± SD)	P value*
Number (n)	17	22	6	4	N/A
Age at onset (y)	56.4 ± 13.4	48.0 ± 12.7	50.7 ± 14.1	42.1 ± 15.9	0.070
Age at study (y)	65.3 ± 9.4	58.8 ± 13.9	62.1 ± 9.2	60.4 ± 13.8	0.060
Disease duration (y)	10.2 ± 8.6	11.1 ± 8.8	11.4 ± 8.9	18.3 ± 15.3	0.785
Female, n (%)	17 (100)	16 (73)	5 (83)	4 (100)	0.027
Male, n (%)	0 (0)	6 (27)	1 (17)	0 (0)	0.027
Limited, n (%)	14 (82)	15 (68)	5 (83)	2 (50)	0.464
Diffuse, n (%)	3 (18)	7 (32)	1 (17)	2 (50)	0.464
ANA, n (%)	16 (94)	22 (100)	6 (100)	4 (100)	1.00
Anti-Scl70, n (%)	1 (6)	4 (18)	1 (17)	2 (50)	0.374
Anti-cent, n (%)	11 (65)	4 (18)	1 (17)	2 (50)	0.007
ESR (mm/hr)	25.0 ± 18.7	21.0 ± 13.7	25.5 ± 14.0	20.0 ± 8.1	0.696
CRP (mg/L)	11.6 ± 11.3	6.1 ± 7.2	28.6 ± 24.7	3.2 ± 2.2	0.023
WHO FC
1	0	3	0	0	0.008
2	4	13	3	1
3	11	6	2	3
4	2	0	1	0

*Statistical comparisons were made between no PH and PAH groups only, due to the small size of the LHD-PH and ILD-PH groups. PH, pulmonary hypertension; PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension; LHD, left heart disease; ILD, interstitial lung disease; ANA, anti-nuclear antibody; anti-Scl70, anti-topoisomerase-1 antibody; anti-cent, anti-centromere antibody; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; WHO FC, World Health Organization functional class.

ISSN: 1478-6362