Pulmonary function tests as outcomes for systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease

- Cerinic Interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis

Lung involvement frequently complicates systemic sclerosis (SSc), provoking loss of quality of life and a poor expectation of survival. For this reason an early diagnosis of lung involvement is warranted: high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (PFT), lung scintigraphy with DTPA and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are mandatory to define and follow-up pulmonary interst...

Interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterised by autoimmune features, widespread vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. The pattern of internal organ involvement and the natural history of the disease are highly variable. Although the etiology is unknown, most studies point to links between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. SSc has bee...

Echocardiography and pulmonary function as screening tests for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE A prospective study to evaluate echocardiography and gas transfer (DLCO) by comparison with cardiac catheterization in discriminating between patients with and without systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH). METHOD A total of 137 (52 with and 85 without pulmonary fibrosis) had echocardiography and lung function tests within 3 months of their definitiv...

Predictors of lung function test severity and outcome in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease

Systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is the leading cause of death in SSc. In this study, we aimed to describe the baseline severity and evolution of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in patients with SSc-ILD and to assess the baseline clinical, biological and high-resolution CT scan (HRCT) predictors of this evolution. Basel...

Is systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease slowly progressive?