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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Thermographic Abnormalities are Associated with Future Digital Ulcers and Death in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
Michael Hughes1, Jack Wilkinson2, Tonia Moore2
1From the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre; Photon Science Institute, University of Manchester; UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Central Manchester National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester; Research and Development, and Department of Rheumatology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK.M. Hughes, MSc, MRCP, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre; J. Wilkinson, MSc, Research and Development, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; T. Moore, BSc, Department of Rheumatology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; J. Manning, BSc, Department of Rheumatology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; P. New, MPharm, Department of Rheumatology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; G. Dinsdale, PhD, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre; A. Murray, PhD, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and Photon Science Institute, University of Manchester; A.L. Herrick, MD, FRCP, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, and NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre. Michael.Hughes-6@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk.
Objective:
Capillaroscopic abnormalities are predictive of future digital ulcers (DU). Our aim was to investigate whether functional digital vascular disease (thermographically assessed) is also associated with future DU.
Methods:
A retrospective case note review of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) undergoing thermography and who were followed for up to about 3 years.
Results:
There were 138 patients (equal mixture of normal/abnormal thermography). Patients with abnormal thermography were more likely to develop DU (clinician-observed and/or patient-reported, OR 2.84, p = 0.021), including multiple episodes, and more likely to die (OR 5.42, p = 0.050).
Conclusion:
Abnormal thermography is associated with DU and disease severity in patients with SSc.
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