Rapid skin thickness progression rate is associated with high incidence rate of cardiopulmonary complications in patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: inception cohort study

摘要

Objective. We aimed to investigate patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) with regard to: 1. the association between skin thickness progression rate ( STPR) at baseline visit and incidence rate of cardiopulmonary complications; 2. comparison of the mortality rate between patients with skin improvers and those with skin non-improvers.