Table 1 Characteristics of the study subjects. Significant differences according to ANOVA are highlighted by p values.

From: Gut microbiota profile in systemic sclerosis patients with and without clinical evidence of gastrointestinal involvement

 

SSc/GI-*

Healthy Controls

SSc/GI+**

p***

Age, mean (range) years

57.4 (34–78)

54.8 (26–78)

55.3 (36–79)

0.75

Mean disease duration

6.7 (range 2–13) years

 

10.7 (range 2–22) years

0.3

Male

1

1

0

0.65

Female

8

8

9

 

Limited cutaneous SSc

9 (100%)

—

2 (22%)

0.0002

Diffuse cutaneous SSc

0

—

7 (78%)

0.0002

Antinuclear Antibody Positive

8 (88%)

—

9 (100%)

1

Anti -topoisomerase I antibody positive

1 (11%)

—

4 (44%)

0.29

Anti centromere antibody positive

4 (44%)

—

2 (22%)

0.37

Diffuse abdominal pain

0

—

7 (78%)

0.002

Bloating

0

—

7 (78%)

0.002

Pyrosis

0

—

6 (67%)

0.009

Epigastric pain

0

—

4 (45%)

0.08

Gastric fullness

0

—

3 (33%)

0.2

Diarrhea

0

—

3 (33%)

0.2

Constipation

0

—

2 (22%)

0.47

Active smokers

0

2 (22%)

0

 

BMI

24.11 ± 2.1

25.8 ± 2.3

19.9 ± 2.36

0.0002

FVC §

90 ± 10.9

97 ± 15

80.77 ± 17.2

0.019

DLCO ‡

86.6 ± 10.9

90 ± 17

59.22 ± 30.26

0.0004

m RSS

8.88 ± 4.28

0

15.11 ± 6.88

0.0004

Presence of SIBO

0

—

3 (33%)

0.2

UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0 questionnaire, mean ± SD Þ

Distension/bloating score

0

0

1 ± 0.4

0.002

Reflux score

0

0

0.6 ± 0.3

0.07

Fecal soilage score

0

0

0

0.96

Diarrhea score

0

0

0.9 ± 0.2

0.002

Emotional well-being score

0

0

0.6 ± 0.5

0.003

Social functioning score

0

0

0.4 ± 0.4

0.076

Constipation score

0

0

0.4 ± 0.4

0.076

N of subjects tested/studied

UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0 questionnaire

9/9

0/9

9/9

 

Glucose and lactulose breath test

0/9

0

3/9

 

Chest TC scan

0/9

0

6/9

 

Modified barium swallow

0/9

0

9/9

 

13C octanoid acid breath test

0

0

4/4

 

Albumin

4.03 ± 0.6

4.2 ± 0.3

3.6 ± 0.82

0.03

Ferritin

85.77 ± 22.8

150 ± 15

14.66 ± 13.61

0.001

Cholesterol

191.22 ± 63.4

200 ± 20

175.33 ± 40

0.03

PT #

98.88 ± 11.8

105 ± 2

91.22 ± 21

0.02

C Reative protein

0.34 ± 0.25

0.2 ± 0.1

0.43 ± 0.27

0.32

ESR (mm/h) ¥

17.22 ± 16.1

12 ± 3

17.77 ± 9.19

0.59

Use of PPI ð

0

0

0

 

Use of immunosuppressive agents

0

0

0

 

Use of prokinetics drugs

0

0

0

 
  1. *SSC/GI- = systemic sclerosis patients without gastrointestinal involvement; **SSC/GI+ = systemic sclerosis patients with gastrointestinal involvement;
  2. ***p = comparison of SSC/GI+ with SSC/GI-; − = absent.
  3. BMI = Body mass index.
  4. §FVC = Forced vital capacity.
  5. ‡DLCO = diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide.
  6. m RSS = modified Rodnan skin score.
  7. SIBO = small intestine bacterial overgrowth.
  8. Þmulti-tier scales of UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0 questionnaire are listed below.
  9. #PT = Prothrombin time;
  10. ðPPI = proton-pump inhibitors;
  11. ¥ESR = Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
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