Does C-reactive protein predict the long-term progression of interstitial lung disease and survival in patients with early systemic sclerosis?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

There are no identified clinical markers that reliably predict long-term progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma). Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have been reported in SSc patients. We examined the predictive significance of CRP level for long-term ILD progression in a large early SSc cohort.

Methods

First, the CRP levels were compared between baseline samples of 266 SSc patients enrolled in the Genetics Versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcome Study cohort and 97 unaffected matched controls. Subsequently, the correlation between CRP levels and concomitantly obtained markers of disease severity was assessed. Serially obtained % predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) was used to examine the long-term ILD progr

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3816494 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature