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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Arterial stiffness predicts severe progression in systemic sclerosis: the ERAMS study
Joël Constans1, Christine Germain, Philippe Gosse
1Vascular and Internal Medicine Unit, CHU Bordeaux, Paris, France. joel.constans@chu-bordeaux.fr
Journal of Hypertension
|September 1, 2007
Summary
Arterial stiffness, measured by the QKd method, is a valuable tool for predicting severe systemic sclerosis progression. This objective measure, alongside hemoglobin levels, offers crucial prognostic insights for patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and vascular abnormalities.
- Assessing the severity and predicting progression in systemic sclerosis remains a clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of arterial stiffness, measured by the QKd 100-60 method, in predicting the severity of systemic sclerosis.
- To identify predictors of severe disease progression in a cohort of systemic sclerosis patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective multicentre cohort study (ERAMS) involving 99 systemic sclerosis patients.
- Arterial stiffness measured non-invasively using the QKd 100-60 method.
- Clinical, biological, respiratory, and cardiac assessments performed annually over 3 years; severe progression defined by a critical event committee.
Main Results:
- Half of the patients exhibited increased arterial stiffness despite normal blood pressure.
- Univariate analysis showed age, lung involvement, DLCO, skin score, hemoglobin, and QKd 100-60 predicted severe progression.
- Multivariate analysis identified hemoglobin rate (OR 0.4) and QKd 100-60 (OR 19.6) as independent predictors of severe systemic sclerosis progression.
Conclusions:
- Arterial stiffness measurement via the QKd method provides an objective and useful assessment of systemic sclerosis prognosis.
- This method offers prognostic value independently of other clinical and biological data.
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