Abstract
Background
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is considered by many to be one of the most severe autoimmune rheumatic diseases with lower prevalence observed in Northern Europe. No previous studies on the prevalence of SSc in Latvia have been conducted and the aim was to study the demographic and clinical data of patients with SSc in northeastern Europe country.
Methods
This study was conducted in two main Latvian hospitals for adults and includes patients with SSc who were consulted between 2016 and 2021.
Results
During the study period, 159 patients with SSc were consulted. The point prevalence on 1 January 2021 was 84.0 per million. Antinuclear antibodies were present in 82.58% of patients, equally in females (82.81%) and in males (81.41%). Centromere pattern was more frequently observed in females than in males (40.19% vs 19.04%), while speckled pattern was the most frequently observed pattern in both genders (50.98% vs 57.14%). At disease onset females tended to be younger (46.51 ± 13.52) than males (50.5 ± 16.64). More than half of patients received treatment with glucocorticoids at any point of the disease (68.31%).
Conclusions
Systemic sclerosis is less common in Latvia than in other countries and regions. Due to its location, the data from Latvia are consistent with a north-south gradient in Europe. ANA presence did not differ between genders, but in females centromere pattern was much more likely to be present. More than half of patients received treatment with GCs at any point of the disease.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is considered by many to be one of the most severe autoimmune rheumatic diseases with lower prevalence observed in Northern Europe. No previous studies on the prevalence of SSc in Latvia have been conducted and the aim was to study the demographic and clinical data of patients with SSc in northeastern Europe country.
Methods
This study was conducted in two main Latvian hospitals for adults and includes patients with SSc who were consulted between 2016 and 2021.
Results
During the study period, 159 patients with SSc were consulted. The point prevalence on 1 January 2021 was 84.0 per million. Antinuclear antibodies were present in 82.58% of patients, equally in females (82.81%) and in males (81.41%). Centromere pattern was more frequently observed in females than in males (40.19% vs 19.04%), while speckled pattern was the most frequently observed pattern in both genders (50.98% vs 57.14%). At disease onset females tended to be younger (46.51 ± 13.52) than males (50.5 ± 16.64). More than half of patients received treatment with glucocorticoids at any point of the disease (68.31%).
Conclusions
Systemic sclerosis is less common in Latvia than in other countries and regions. Due to its location, the data from Latvia are consistent with a north-south gradient in Europe. ANA presence did not differ between genders, but in females centromere pattern was much more likely to be present. More than half of patients received treatment with GCs at any point of the disease.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Research Square |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Sept 2023 |
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
- 3.1 Basic medicine
Publication Type*
- 6. Other publications