Non-invasive imaging and clinical skin scores in juvenile localized scleroderma
Authors' conclusion
Non-invasive imaging can detect differences between affected and non-affected skin in JLS and may help to differentiate between activity (thicker, less well-perfused skin) and damage (thinner, highly perfused skin).
Study context
- Population
- Children with juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS), single 'target' lesion
- Participants
- 25 children
- Exposure
- Affected vs non-affected skin by high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS), infrared thermography (IRT), laser Doppler imaging (LDI) and multispectral imaging (MSI); correlation of imaging with Localised Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT)
- Outcome
- Differences between affected and non-affected skin on HFUS (skin thickness), IRT (temperature), LDI (blood flow) and MSI (oxygenation); correlation with LoSCAT
Methodological detailsfour visits at 3 month intervals
- Four visits at 3 month intervals
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Affected vs non-affected skin
- Differences between affected and non-affected skin detected with all four techniques
- Affected skin vs Non-affected skin: P < 0.001
- Affected skin vs Non-affected skin: P < 0.001-0.006
- Affected skin vs Non-affected skin: P < 0.001-0.039
- Affected skin vs Non-affected skin: P < 0.001-0.028
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Correlation of lesion skin activity (LoSCAT) with imaging
| R (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre HFUSPositive correlation | 0.32 (0.02–0.61) | P = 0.036 |
| Centre LDINegative correlation | −0.26 (−0.49 to −0.04) | P = 0.022 |
Correlation of lesion skin damage with imaging
| R (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre IRT | 0.43 (0.19–0.67) | P < 0.001 |
| Inner IRT | 0.36 (0.12–0.59) | P = 0.003 |
| Centre LDI | 0.37 (0.05–0.69) | P = 0.024 |
| Inner LDI | 0.41 (0.08–0.74) | P = 0.015 |
Original publication
Non-invasive imaging and clinical skin scores in juvenile localized scleroderma. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 2 August 2023. doi:10.
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