Article Text
Abstract
Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has the potential to result in irreversible damage in various organs.
Objectives To determine the accrual of damage in each organ system in the first five years of SSc disease.
Methods A panel of experts defined organ-specific indicators of damage in SSc. Using prospectively acquired data from patients entering the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study within 2 years of disease onset, annual accrual of organ damage from years 2 to 5 following disease onset was determined.
Results The frequency of each damage indicator at years 2 to 5 in 182 patients is presented in the graph. Damage occurred in all organ systems, most commonly in the skin/MSK (23.1% at 4 years), respiratory (12.1%), GI (7.1%) & GU systems (erectile dysfunction in men 31.4%).
Conclusions Organ damage occurs early in SSc. This is a compelling rationale for forming a large inception cohort (INternational SYstemic Sclerosis Inception Cohort; INSYNC) of patients with SSc to determine the predictors of organ damage and to develop strategies for preventing the occurrence of organ damage in SSc.
Disclosure of Interest None Declared