Immunochemical study on serum proteins in systemic sclerosis

Forty one patients with systemic sclerosis were studied after separation into three groups according to Barnett's classification. A multi-dimensional statistical analysis eight serum proteins revealed a difference between control patients and patients with type I and type II scleroderma. Type I scleroderma was characterised by a rise in alpha 2 macroglobulin and in the C4 fraction of complement, whilst in type II scleroderma all the proteins studied were raised, with the exception of CO complement, which was normal, and transferrin which was markedly decreased.