[The prevalence and clinical significance of arthritis in patients with systemic sclerosis]

To explore the prevalence and independent influencing factors of arthritis in Chinese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

A total of 248 SSc patients were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were compared in arthritis group and non-arthritis group.

Of 248 Chinese SSc patients, mean age of onset was (37.1 ± 13.7) years old and disease duration was (7.4 ± 5.2) years. Overall prevalence of arthritis was 41.1% (102/248). The presence of arthralgia(95.1% vs 15.1%), muscle weakness (38.2% vs 24.7%), short of breath (60.8% vs 45.2%), and intestinal lung disease (64.7% vs 49.3%) occurred more frequently in patients with arthritis than those without arthritis (P < 0.05). The elevation of C reactive protein, anti-Sm and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide were more common in arthritis group than in non-arthritis group (61.4% vs 43.9%, 11.4% vs 2.5% and 28.1% vs 2/16, respectively). There were no obvious differences in the Rodnan score, digital ulcers, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and six-minute walk test between two groups (P > 0.05).

This study reveals the significant prevalence of arthritis in a large cohort of SSc patients in China. Compared to non-arthritis patients, the SSc patients with arthritis have a more severe inflammation reaction and a higher rate of intestinal lung disease.