Table 1 Demographic and clinical features of patients with systemic sclerosis and controls

Female/male

63 (90)/7 (10)

31 (88.5)/4 (11.4)

0.680

Age, in years

48.9 ± 13.4

47.6 ± 14.0

0.630

Limited SSc/diffuse SSc

44 (62.9)/26 (37.1)

–

–

Disease duration, in years

6.4 ± 4.0

–

–

Modified Rodnan skin score

6.5 ± 9.6

–

–

Digital ulcers ever

39 (55.7)

–

–

Forced vital capacity, in % predict

80.9 ± 17.4 (n = 63)

–

–

Forced vital capacity ≤ 80%

33 (52.3) (n = 63)

–

–

Interstitial lung disease

38 (54.3)

–

–

Pulmonary arterial hypertension

4 (5.7)

–

–

Esophageal dyskinesia

42 (60)

–

–

Cardiac involvement

8 (11.4)

–

–

Scleroderma renal crisis

3 (4.3)

–

–

Autoantibodies

 Anticentromere

13 (18.6)

–

–

 Anti-topoisomerase I

13 (18.6)

–

–

Comorbidity

37 (52.9)

–

–

Nailfold capillaroscopy SD pattern

(n = 61)

 Early

8 (11.4)

–

–

 Active

25 (35.7)

–

–

 Late

28 (40)

Nailfold capillaroscopy parameters

(n = 61)

 Mean capillaries loops/mm

7.2 ± 2.0

–

–

 Mean enlarged capillaries

2.1 ± 1.5

–

–

 Mean microhemorrhages

1.5 ± 2.2

–

–

 Mean giant capillaries

0.2 ± 0.4

–

–

 Mean avascular score

1.0 ± 0.9

–

–

 Avascular score > 1.5

19 (31.1)

–

–

Calcium channel blockers use

49 (70)

–

–

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors use

9 (12.9)

–

–

Statins use

8 (11.4)

–

–

Use of immunosuppressants

 Any

39 (55.7)

–

–

 Glucocorticoids

8 (11.4)

–

–

 Mean prednisone dosage, in mg/day

0.8 ± 2.5

–

–

 Cyclophosphamide

3 (4.3)

–

–

 Mycophenolate

15 (21.4)

–

–

 Azathioprine

3 (4.3)

–

–

 Rituximab

1 (1.4)

–

–

 Methotrexate

12 (17.1)

–

–

 Leflunomide

4 (5.7)

–