Applying the ACR/EULAR Systemic Sclerosis Classification Criteria to the Spanish Scleroderma Registry Cohort

Abstract

Objective: To compare American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc) with previous American Rheumatology Association (ARA) criteria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicenter study comparing sensitivity of both criteria in the cutaneous subsets in the Spanish scleroderma registry (RESCLE) cohort.

Results: In 1222 patients with SSc, the most prevalent items were Raynaud phenomenon (95%), skin thickening (91%), and abnormal capillaroscopy (89%). ARA criteria classified as SSc 63.5% of all patients, and 63%, 100%, 11.2%, and 0% in the limited, diffuse, sine, and pre-SSc subsets, respectively. ACR/EULAR criteria classified 87.5% of all patients and 98.5%, 100%, 41.8%, and 15.9% in the same subsets, respectively.

Conclusion: ACR/EULAR criteria are more sensitive than ARA criteria, especially in limited, sine, and pre-SSc subsets.

Keywords: CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA; SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS.