Objective: Capillaroscopic abnormalities are predictive of future digital ulcers (DU). Our aim was to investigate whether functional digital vascular disease (thermographically assessed) is also associated with future DU.
Methods: A retrospective case note review of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) undergoing thermography and who were followed for up to about 3 years.
Results: There were 138 patients (equal mixture of normal/abnormal thermography). Patients with abnormal thermography were more likely to develop DU (clinician-observed and/or patient-reported, OR 2.84, p = 0.021), including multiple episodes, and more likely to die (OR 5.42, p = 0.050).
Conclusion: Abnormal thermography is associated with DU and disease severity in patients with SSc.
Keywords: DEATH; DIGITAL ULCERS; SCLERODERMA; SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS; THERMOGRAPHY.