Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Pathological contributors to organ damage and mortality in systemic sclerosis: a nationwide matched case-control study
Authors' conclusion
This matched autopsy study demonstrates the mechanisms and complexity of organ damage in SSc, with 30-45 % of organs displaying multiple concurrent pathologies.
Study context
- Population
- Autopsy data from the Australian National Coronial Information System
- Participants
- 59 vs 59
- Comparison
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) cases vs age- and sex-matched controls from motor vehicle accidents
- SScn = 59
- Controlsn = 59reference
- Outcome
- Heart, lung and renal histopathology at autopsy
Methodological detailsnationwide, age- and sex-matched, autopsy data
- Nationwide
- Age- and sex-matched
- Autopsy data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cardiac histopathology at autopsy
SSc vs ControlsOdds ratio (95 % CI)P value
Myocardial fibrosis
11(4–29)
P < 0.01Myocardial inflammation
39(2–672)
P = 0.01Small vessel vasculopathy
27(2–485)
P = 0.02Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation and vasculopathy
- 23 to 100-times more common in SSc
Renal fibrosis/scarring, inflammation/infiltrates and vasculopathy
- 3-6-times more common in SSc
Combined pathologies (≥2 of fibrosis, inflammation or vasculopathy) among SSc cases
%
- Hearts
- 31
- Lungs
- 41
- Kidneys
- 45
Original publication
Pathological contributors to organ damage and mortality in systemic sclerosis: a nationwide matched case-control study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 29 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →