[Radiological changes in feet of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis]

Forty six patients (41 female and 5 male) with progressive systemic sclerosis were analysed through X-ray photographs of feet. Age ranged from 33 to 74 (mean: 48 +/- 13) years old, and durations of the disease were one to 28 (mean: 9.8 +/- 8) years. Abnormal radiological findings of feet were noted as following; bone absorption of the terminal tufts of the first phalanx (6 out of 46 cases: 13%), bone absorption of metatarsals and/or mid, basal phalanges (2 cases: 4.3%), bone erosion (6 cases: 13.0%), calcification (7 cases: 15.2%), diffuse osteoporosis (2 cases: 4.3%) and cystic lesion (one case: 2.2%). All patients with abnormal findings on X-ray photographs of feet simultaneously showed radiological changes of hands. It took 13.3 +/- 7 years until the radiological findings appeared in feet. On the other hand, it took much shorter 8.8 +/- 6 years in hands. Patients with radiological changes in feet tended simultaneously to have pulmonary and digestive tract involvements, and widespread skin lesions such identified as diffuse scleroderma. Anti-Scl 70 antibody were positive in a half of these patients.