Systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma: is it always the same disease? Report of three patients and discussion

Rheumatol Int. 2002 Aug;22(4):170-2. doi: 10.1007/s00296-002-0222-y. Epub 2002 Jul 2.

Abstract

The recent description of a large cohort of patients with the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) provided significant progress in our understanding of this entity. The prognosis of patients with ssSSc is, however, very variable, from benign in most cases to rapidly disabling in others. By reporting three new cases and analyzing previously published data, we discuss possible subsets and variants of the disease form.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • CREST Syndrome / diagnosis
  • CREST Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / diagnosis
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Scleroderma, Localized / diagnosis*
  • Scleroderma, Localized / physiopathology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / diagnosis*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / physiopathology
  • Severity of Illness Index