[Occupational systemic sclerosis in men]

Abstract

An analysis of the history of 28 men suffering from systemic sclerosis, diagnosed at our department during the last 25 years, showed that 21 (75%) had been subject to exposures previously suggested to be of importance in occupational scleroderma. The exposures were revealed by patient files, reports to health authorities, interviews and/or answers to questionnaires. Organic solvents being the most frequent exposure. This was found in thirteen of the patients (46%). A significant difference was found between scleroderma patients and control patients not suffering from connective tissue diseases in relation to total number of subjects exposed to one or several of the agents in question.