Respiratory disorders in systemic sclerosis.

ABSTRACT

Respiratory disorders in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are common. They are also a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Currently, there are no good clinical or serological parameters that would predict respiratory disorders in SSc. The aims of this study are to review the different patterns of respiratory disorder in Thai SSc and to identify the clinical and serological parameters that may be associated with those respiratory disorders. A retrospective medical records review was performed. Out of 137 scleroderma patients seen by the division of rheumatology at Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University from January 1986 to December 2006, sixty-six (48.2%) had respiratory disorders. The most common respiratory disorder was interstitial lung disease (ILD) (81.8%), followed by secondary pulmonary hypertension (PHT) (24%). A few cases of isolated PHT were found (3%). There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical manifestations, disease subtypes or serological parameters between SSc patients who had ILD with or without secondary PHT. Raynaud’s phenomenon was very commonly seen in the SSc patients with PHT.