Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Exploratory study on quantitative assessment of skin hardness in patients with systemic sclerosis using SOFTGRAM
Authors' conclusion
This study showed the practicality of SOFTGRAM as an accurate measurement method of skin hardness but also revealed points to be improved.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls; 8 body parts (both cheeks, forearms, fingers, hands)20 SSc, 20 healthy controls
- Participants
- 40 patients
- Comparison
- Elastic modulus by SOFTGRAM vs modified Rodnan total skin thickness score; SSc vs healthy controls
- Healthy controlsn = 20reference
- Outcome
- Whether SOFTGRAM elastic modulus can evaluate skin hardness in SSc
Methodological details5 observers measured skin score 320 times; elastic modulus measured 1600 times (5 times per part)
- 5 observers measured skin score 320 times; elastic modulus measured 1600 times (5 times per part)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Correlation of elastic modulus with skin score; elastic modulus (8 parts)
Healthy controls
22.6
± 15.7
lcSSc
32.0
± 27.7
dcSSc
44.8
± 39.8
P < 0.001
- Correlation coefficient, elastic modulus vs skin score (p<0.001)
- 0.67
Further findings
- Intraobserver reliability sufficient in 6 out of 7 observers
- Interobserver reliability less satisfactory
Original publication
Exploratory study on quantitative assessment of skin hardness in patients with systemic sclerosis using SOFTGRAM. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 20 July 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →