Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Foot peripheral sensory neuropathy: a frequent disabling manifestation in systemic sclerosis
Authors' conclusion
Foot PSN presents as a common and disabling manifestation in SSc patients, involving small and large fibres.
Study context
- Population
- SSc patients (88.1% female, median age 59.0 years) and age- and gender-comparable healthy controls; quantitative sensory testing of feet
- Participants
- 109 vs 51
- Exposure
- SSc patients vs healthy controls comparable for age and gender
- SScn = 109
- HCn = 51reference
- Outcome
- Presence of foot PSN (large and small fiber neuropathy) on quantitative sensory testing
Methodological detailsobservational, case-control
- Observational
- Case-control
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Foot PSN prevalence in SSc patients
Foot peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) present
85.3%
Small fiber neuropathy
80%
Large fiber neuropathy
57%
Small and large fiber neuropathy co-existing
51.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sensory parameters (touch, vibratory, thermal, pain), SSc vs HC
- Significant impairment in each sensory parameter assessed in SSc patients
- P ≤ 0.01 for all
At least one neuropathic symptom in subjects with PSN
- Subjects with PSN reporting at least one neuropathic symptom
- 80.6%
Factors associated with PSN
- PSN associated with age, smoking, foot ulceration, disease duration and GC use
Physical function, foot disability and quality of life (QoL) in patients with neuropathic symptoms
- Worse physical function, worse foot disability and more impaired QoL with neuropathic symptoms
Original publication
Foot peripheral sensory neuropathy: a frequent disabling manifestation in systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 29 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →