Renal vascular damage in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate renal vascular damage in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) by colour-flow Doppler ultrasonography.

METHODS

The pulsatility index (PI) was measured in renal interlobar and segmental arteries by colour-flow Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTS

PI values of interlobar arteries were increased in SSc patients (n=53) with normal renal function compared with healthy persons (n=16), systemic lupus erythematosus patients (n=12) and dermatomyositis patients (n=3). SSc patients with elevated PI levels had digital pitting scar, short sublingual frenulum, contracture of phalanges, pulmonary fibrosis, decreased per cent vital capacity, heart involvement, positivity for anti-topoisomerase I antibody, and elevated C-reactive protein more frequently than those with normal PI levels.

CONCLUSION

Although renal crisis is rare in Japanese SSc patients, our study suggests that latent and subclinical renal damage exists in these patients.