Abstract

ROLON, Julio  and  SOBARZO, Patricia. Clinical and immunological characteristics of patients with scleroderma who attended the Hospital Nacional de Itauguá from 2018-2020. Rev. parag. reumatol. [online]. 2021, vol.7, n.2, pp.60-65. ISSN 2413-4341.  https://doi.org/10.18004/rpr/2021.07.02.60.

Introduction: Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SS) is a systemic connective tissue disease of unknown cause, that causes fibrosis and degenerative changes in the skin, synovial membrane, arterial vessels, skeletal muscle, gastrointestinal tract, lung, heart and kidney.

Objectives: To describe the clinical and immunological characteristics of inpatients and outpatients with systemic sclerosis who attended the National Hospital of Itaguá from 2018-2020.

Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study was carried out with nonprobabilistic convenience sampling. Male and female patients, 18 years or older, with scleroderma, who attended the National Hospital in the period from January 2018 to October 2020, were included. Socio demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables as well as treatment, were recorded. Ethical aspects were taken into account.

Results: The sample consisted of 34 patients. The mean age was 48 ± 13 years. Most patients were from the Central department, and predominantly female (65%). The most frequent clinical manifestation was Raynaud‘s phenomenon (88%), and the predominant clinical form was diffuse scleroderma (56%). Most frequently affected organs were the cardiovascular (53%) and pulmonary systems (50%). Anti-Topoisomerase I antibodies were observed in 50% and anti-Centromere antibody in 12% of the patients with scleroderma. Most frequently used treatment was corticosteroids (53%).

Conclusion: Young adult females prevailed in this scleroderma population. The most frequent clinical form was diffuse scleroderma and Raynaud‘s phenomenon was the most common symptom.

Keywords : scleroderma; clinical features; immunological features.

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