Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Assessment of Skin in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis Using High‐Frequency Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography: A Comparative Study With Histology, Molecular, and Clinical Parameters
Authors' conclusion
High-frequency US assessment of SSc skin does not show consistent and strong face, construct, or criterion validity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls; finger, hand and forearm assessed bilaterally, forearm skin biopsy
- Participants
- 52 vs 20
- Comparison
- High-frequency ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography of skin vs mRSS, histologic and gene expression fibrosis markers
- SScn = 52
- HCn = 20reference
- Outcome
- Face, construct and criterion validity of US-based skin assessment (dermal thickness, echogenicity, elastography)
Methodological detailsblinded, independent assessors, comparative study with histology, molecular and clinical parameters
- Blinded, independent assessors
- Comparative study with histology, molecular and clinical parameters
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Validity of US-based skin assessment
Criterion validity: US thickness vs histologic thickness, ρ (P = 0.002)
0.43
Original publication
Assessment of Skin in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis Using High‐Frequency Ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography: A Comparative Study With Histology, Molecular, and Clinical Parameters. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 26 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →