Medicine (St Vincent's) - Research Publications

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    Clinical characteristics and survival of pulmonary arterial hypertension with or without interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis
    Fairley, JL ; Hansen, D ; Ross, L ; Proudman, S ; Sahhar, J ; Ngian, G-S ; Walker, J ; Host, L ; Morrisroe, K ; Apostolopoulous, D ; Ferdowsi, N ; Wilson, M ; Tabesh, M ; Stevens, W ; Nikpour, M (BMC, 2023-05-12)
    OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical phenotype and prognosis of people in the Australian Scleroderma (SSc) Cohort Study with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with or without interstitial lung disease (ILD). METHODS: Participants meeting ACR/EULAR criteria for SSc were divided into four mutually exclusive groups: those meeting criteria for PAH (PAH-only), ILD (ILD-only), concurrent PAH and ILD (PAH-ILD) or neither PAH nor ILD (SSc-only). Logistic or linear regression analyses were used for associations between clinical features, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox-regression modelling. RESULTS: Of 1561 participants, 7% fulfilled criteria for PAH-only, 24% ILD-only, 7% PAH-ILD and 62% SSc-only. People with PAH-ILD were more frequently male, with diffuse skin involvement, higher inflammatory markers, older age of SSc onset and higher frequency of extensive ILD than the cohort overall (p < 0.001). People of Asian race more frequently developed PAH-ILD (p < 0.001). People with PAH-ILD or PAH-only had worse WHO functional class and 6-min-walk-distance than ILD-only (p < 0.001). HRQoL scores were worst in those with PAH-ILD (p < 0.001). Survival was reduced in the PAH-only and PAH-ILD groups (p < 0.01). Multivariable hazard modelling demonstrated the worst prognosis in extensive ILD and PAH (HR = 5.65 95% CI 3.50-9.12 p < 0.01), followed by PAH-only (HR = 4.21 95% CI 2.89-6.13 p < 0.01) and PAH with limited ILD (HR = 2.46 95% CI 1.52-3.99 p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of concurrent PAH-ILD in the ASCS is 7%, with poorer survival in those patients with PAH-ILD compared to ILD or SSc alone. The presence of PAH confers a poorer overall prognosis than even extensive ILD; however, further data are required to better understand the clinical outcomes of this high-risk patient group.
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    Clinical Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Systemic Sclerosis Overlap Syndromes
    Fairley, JL ; Hansen, D ; Proudman, S ; Sahhar, J ; Ngian, G-S ; Walker, J ; Strickland, G ; Wilson, M ; Morrisroe, K ; Ferdowsi, N ; Major, G ; Roddy, J ; Stevens, W ; Nikpour, M (WILEY, 2021-05)
    OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of systemic sclerosis-mixed connective tissue disease (SSc-MCTD) and SSc overlap syndrome. METHODS: We included patients from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study who met American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria for SSc. Three mutually exclusive groups were created: SSc-MCTD, SSc overlap, and SSc only. Univariate comparison of clinical features was performed by analysis of variance or chi-square test. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: Of 1,728 patients, 97 (5.6%) had SSc-MCTD, and 126 (7.3%) had SSc overlap. Those with MCTD-SSc were more commonly Asian (18.3% versus 10.1% in SSc overlap, and 3.6% in SSc only; P < 0.0001) and younger at disease onset (38.4 years versus 46.5 or 46.8 years, P < 0.0001). Those with SSc-MCTD or SSc overlap were more likely to have limited cutaneous SSc. All 3 groups had similar frequency of interstitial lung disease (ILD), although pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was less common in SSc overlap. Synovitis and myositis were more common in SSc overlap and SSc-MCTD than in SSc only. KM curves showed better survival in SSc-MCTD than SSc overlap or SSc only (P = 0.011), but this was not significant after adjustment for sex and age at disease onset. SSc-specific antibodies were survival prognostic markers, with antinuclear antibody centromere or anti-RNP conferring better survival than anti-Scl-70 or anti-RNA polymerase III (P = 0.005). Patients with SSc-MCTD and SSc overlap had lower mortality following diagnosis of ILD and PAH than patients with SSc only. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics of patients with SSc-MCTD, SSc overlap, and SSc only and shows that anti-RNP antibodies are associated with better survival than anti-Scl-70 and anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies.