A modified scleroderma skin scoring method.

The extent of skin thickness in scleroderma has been reported to correlate with the degree of internal organ involvement. An objective method for the clinical evaluation of skin involvement (skin score) in scleroderma is described. In this preliminary study, the method was tested in twenty scleroderma patients. An acceptable degree of inter-observer reproducibility was noted. This method is proposed as a means of monitoring the degree of skin involvement and the overall disease activity.