[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in system sclerosis]

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a group of cardiovascular risk factors whose prevalence is increased in rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to estimate de prevalence of MS and insulin resistance (IR) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Fifty five patients with SSc were included. The World Health Organization criteria were used to define MS. Demographic, anthropometric and blood pressure data were recorded. Blood glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides and insulin were measured. Oral glucose tolerance curve was performed to identify impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in those patients with normal fasting blood glucose. The HOMA index was calculated as well as a quantified proteinuria in urine of 24 hours.

The prevalence of MS was 36.4 % (20 of 55 patients). Seventy percent of the patients with MS had limited SSc and 30 % diffuse SSc. An increased IR was observed in the limited SSc in comparison with the diffuse SSc (2.948 vs. 1.817 ± 0.3844 ± 0.2771, p = 0.03). An association between IR and MS was found in the limited SSc (p = 0.0001). Regarding the rest of the MS criteria, hypertriglyceridemia and an abnormal waist/hip ratio were the variables most often encountered, 95 % and 85 % respectively. Fifty percent of MS patients had low levels HDL-c and 40 % of them were hypertensive. None of the patients had proteinuria.

The prevalence of MS in SSc was 36.4 %, similar to the found in other rheumatic diseases, but higher compared to the found in the Mexican population.