Table 1 Clinical characteristics
|  | SSc (N = 9) | Controls (N = 9) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean or % | SD or N | Mean or % | SD or N | |
Age, years | 52.8 | 16.2 | 45.2 | 20.0 |
Female, % | 100% | 9 | 44.4% | 4 |
Ethnicity, % | ||||
 Caucasian | 77.8% | 7 | 66.7% | 6 |
 Asian | 22.2% | 2 | 22.2% | 2 |
 Other | – | 0 | 11.1% | 1 |
Smoking, % | ||||
 Current | 11.1% | 1 | – | 0 |
 Past | 22.2% | 2 | 22.2% | 2 |
 Never | 55.6% | 5 | 77.8% | 7 |
 Unknown | 11.1% | 1 | – | 0 |
Disease duration, years | 10.4 | 7.0 | Â | Â |
Interstitial lung disease, % | 11.1% | 1 | Â | Â |
Arthritis, % | 11.1% | 1 | Â | Â |
Myositis, % | 22.2% | 2 | Â | Â |
Raynaud’s, % | 100% | 9 |  |  |
Anti-nuclear antibodies | ||||
 Titer ≥1:80, % | 100% | 9 |  |  |
 Titer ≥1:160, % | 66.7% | 6 |  |  |
 Titer ≥1:640, % | 55.6% | 5 |  |  |
Blood biochemical indices | ||||
 C-reactive protein (CRP), mg/L | 29.5 | 65.3¶ |  |  |
 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mm/hr | 23.7 | 14.1 |  |  |
 Abs. whole blood cell (WBC), K/ μ L | 8.2 | 4.6 |  |  |
 Abs. lymphocytes, K/ μ L | 1.6 | 0.7 |  |  |
 Abs. monocytes, K/ μ L | 0.7 | 0.7¶ |  |  |
Disease-specific variables | ||||
 Limited skin disease | 33.3% | 3 |  |  |
 Diffuse skin disease | 66.7% | 6 |  |  |
Immunosuppressive medication§, % | 33.3% | 3 |  |  |