Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by microangiopathy, inflammation, fibrosis. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is common among SSc patients.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nThis study aims to define the clinical, laboratory and serologic characteristics of SSc patients with ILD and to present the frequency of chest computed tomography features.\n\n\nMETHODS\nTwo hundred twenty-six SSc patients who applied to the Rheumatology Department between January 2007 and August 2019 were retrospectively examined. A total of 100 SSc patients with ILD (44.2 %) were determined. Clinical, laboratory and serological features of SSc patients with and without ILD were compared.\n\n\nRESULT\nBoth groups had similar characteristics in terms of age and sex. The duration of disease (p=0.001) and follow-up time (p=0.001) were longer in SSc patients with ILD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the duration of disease (OR: 1.06 [1.01-1.13], p=0.029), presence of gastrointestinal system involvement (OR: 3.29 [1.28-8.46], p=0.013) and anti-SCL70-positivity (OR: 6.04 [2.35-15.49], p<0.001) were associated with ILD. There was an inverse relationship between Anti-CENP-B positivity and the presence of ILD (p=0.001). The assessment regarding the chest computed tomography characteristics of interstitial pneumonia patterns were as follows: 82.5% non-specific interstitial pneumonia, 14.4% usual interstitial pneumonia and 2.1% desquamative interstitial pneumonia. The most frequent abnormal findings included ground glass opacification (88.7%), reticulation (64.9%), traction bronchiectasis (57.7%), septal thickening (52.6%) and honey combing (28.9%).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nWe have shown that there is a relationship between anti-SCL70, disease duration, gastrointestinal system involvement and ILD in SSc patients.