Curr Health Sci J, vol. 38, no. 4, 2012

Correlations between scleroderma renal crisis and videocapillaroscopic patterns in patients with systemic sclerosis

[Original paper]

CRISTINA HOANCA(1), IOANA RALUCA COJOCARU-GOFITA(1), FLORENTIN VREJU(1), PAULINA CIUREA(1)


(1)University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Faculty of Medicine, Rheumatology Department


Abstract:

Introduction - Scleroderma renal crisis is one of the major complications of ScS, being the main cause of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis. Objectives - to establish the correlations between scleroderma renal crisis, the subsets of the disease, videocapillaroscopic patterns and modified Rodnan skin score in patients with ScS. Methods: a number of 35 patients with ScS have been included in the study, 23 with lcScS and 12 from dcScS. Scleroderma renal crisis has been studied in comparison with the two subsets of the disease, capillary nailfold changes and modified Rodnan skin score. Results - scleroderma renal crisis was more frequent in diffuse cutaneous form (25%) than in the limited one (8,70%),  occuring with the same frequency in the first 5 years and after an evolution longer than 10 years (40%). In 60% of the patients with SRC, an “active” type scleroderma-like pattern was observed and in 40% a “late” pattern was described, and mRSS recorded an average value of 35,97 ± 9,02. Conclusions - During the last two decades, the outcome of scleroderma renal crisis has improved dramatically with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Prompt diagnosis and early, aggressive initiation of therapy with ACE inhibitors will result in the most optimal outcome.


Keywords:
scleroderma, renal crisis, videocapillaroscopy



Corresponding:
Cristina Hoanca MD, PhD Student Rheumatology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Str Petru Rares No 4, 200456, Craiova, Romania. E-mail: criss_hoan@yahoo.com


DOI 10.12865/CHSJ.38.04.05 - Download PDF