<p>Unless noted otherwise, values are percentages. dcSSc, diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis; lcSSc, limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis; MRSS, modified Rodnan total skin thickness score; DLco, diffuse capacity for carbon monoxide; VC, vital capacity; RVSP; right ventricular systolic pressure. Patients were evaluated for the presence of esophageal, pulmonary, cardiac, renal, or muscle involvements, as follows. Esophagus hypomotility was defined as distal esophageal hypomotility on barium-contrast radiography. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was defined as bibasilar interstitial fibrosis on chest radiographs, and in patients with no abnormalities on chest radiographs early ILD was defined as alveolitis on high-resolution computer tomography. Elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was defined as 35 mmHg or more on echocardiogram. Cardiac involvement was defined as any of the following: symptomatic pericarditis, clinical evidence of left ventricular congestive heart failure, or arrhythmias requiring treatment. Scleroderma renal crisis was defined as malignant hypertension and/or rapidly progressive renal failure. Skeletal muscle involvement was defined as proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase levels, plus abnormal electromyographic findings consistent with myopathy and/or histopathologic changes in inflammatory myopathy. Disease onset was defined as the first clinical event of SSc other than Raynaud's phenomenon. Disease duration was defined as the interval between the onset and the time the blood samples were drawn. Statistical analysis was carried out with Fisher's exact probability test.</p><p>*P<0.05.</p
