Overview of osteo-articular involvement in systemic sclerosis: Specific risk factors, clinico-sonographic evaluation, and comparison with healthy women from the French OFELY cohort

Abstract

Osteoarticular involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is frequent and varied. Data are scarce on the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis (OP). We aimed to assess clinical parameters, radiological parameters, US articular involvements, and the frequency of OP and evaluate SSc-specific risk factors. In a prospective cohort of 54 patients with SSc, data of OP risk factors, SSc organ involvements, tender and swollen joint counts, DAS28-CRP, hand US sonographies, X-ray hand views, and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed. BMD values were compared to those from a healthy female population (OFELY cohort). Nineteen patients (40%) had OP. SSc was a risk factor of lower BMD in the patient group than in the control group. OP was associated with SSc-related risk factors and not with conventional OP risk factors. Nine patients had clinical synovitis (16%), and 23 (68%) patients had at least one US synovitis. No correlation was found with articular destruction, disease severity, autoantibody profile, or other organ impairment.

Keywords: Bone mineral density; Osteoporosis; Risk factor; Sonography; Synovitis; Systemic sclerosis.