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Objective To describe demographic, clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a large multicentre systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort.Methods Data involving 1808 SSc patients from Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation registry were collected. The ssSSc was defined by the absence of any cutaneous sclerosis and/or puffy fingers. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc were compared with limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets.Results Among patients with SSc, only 61 (3.4%) were classified as having ssSSc (F/M=19/1). Time from Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) onset to diagnosis was longer in ssSSc (3 years, IQR 1–16.5) than lcSSc (2 years, IQR 0–7), and dcSSc (1 year, IQR 0–3) (p

Objective: To describe demographic, clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc) in a large multicentre systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort., Methods: Data involving 1808 SSc patients from Italian Systemic sclerosis PRogression INvestiGation registry were collected. The ssSSc was defined by the absence of any cutaneous sclerosis and/or puffy fingers. Clinical and serological features of ssSSc were compared with limited cutaneous (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets., Results: Among patients with SSc, only 61 (3.4%) were classified as having ssSSc (F/M=19/1). Time from Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) onset to diagnosis was longer in ssSSc (3 years, IQR 1-16.5) than lcSSc (2 years, IQR 0-7), and dcSSc (1 year, IQR 0-3) (p<0.001). Clinical ssSSc phenotype was comparable to lcSSc, except for digital pitting scars (DPS) (19.7% vs 42%, p=0.01), but significantly milder than dcSSc, particularly for digital ulcers (DU) (6.6% vs 35.7%, p<0.001), oesophagus (46.2% vs 63.5%, p=0.009), lung (mean diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide 72.2±19.6 vs 62.4±22.8, p=0.009; mean forced vital capacity 105.6±21.7 vs 89.2±20.9, p<0.001) and major videocapillaroscopic alterations (late pattern 8.6% vs 47.6%, p<0.001). Moreover, in ssSSc the percentages of anticentromere and antitopoisomerase were comparable to lcSSc (40% and 18.3% vs 36.7% and 26.6%), but divergent respect to dcSSc (8.6% and 67.4%, p<0.001)., Conclusion: The ssSSc is a quite rare disease variant characterised by clinico-serological features comparable to lcSSc, but significantly different from dcSSc. Overall, longer RP duration, low percentages of DPS and peripheral microvascular abnormalities, and increased anti-centromere seropositivity distinguish ssSSc. Further investigations based on national registries might provide useful insights on the actual relevance of the ssSSc within the scleroderma spectrum., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an orphan disease characterised by autoimmunity, fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, and vasculopathy. SSc may be associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this narrative review we summarise the results of a systematic literature research, which was performed as part of the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases project, aimed at evaluating existing clinical practice guidelines or recommendations. Only in the domains 'Vascular & Ulcers' (ie, non-pharmacological approach to digital ulcer), 'PAH' (ie, screening and treatment), 'Treatment' and 'Juveniles' (ie, evaluation of juveniles with Raynaud's phenomenon) evidence-based and consensus-based guidelines could be included. Hence there is a preponderance of unmet needs in SSc referring to the diagnosis and (non-)pharmacological treatment of several SSc-specific complications. Patients with SSc experience significant uncertainty concerning SSc-related taxonomy, management (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) and education. Day-to-day impact of the disease (loss of self-esteem, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and occupational, nutritional and relational problems) is underestimated and needs evaluation., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: VS, None to declare. CAS, None to declare. RT, None to declare. PA, None to declare. TA, None to declare. YA, consulted for Actelion, Bayer, Roche/Genentech, Inventiva, Medac, Pfizer, Sanofi, Servier, and UCB; and has received research grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche/Genentech, Inventiva, Pfizer, Sanofi. CB, None to declare. VC, None to declare. VD, None to declare. JVB, None to declare. ADS, None to declare. OD, had consultancy relationship and/or has received research funding from Actelion, AnaMar, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Catenion, CSL Behring, ChemomAb, Roche, GSK, Inventiva, Italfarmaco, Lilly, medac, Medscape, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, and UCB in the area of potential treatments ofscleroderma and its complications. In addition, Prof. Distler has a patent mir-29 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis licensed. The real or perceived potential conflicts listed above are accurately stated. IG, None to declare. DL, None to declare. GL, None to declare. AM, None to declare. LM, None to declare. BR, None to declare. AS, None to declare. AT, None to declare. EV, None to declare. AV, None to declare. MV, None to declare. FVH, None to declare. RVV, consulted for AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Biotest, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, GSK, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB; and received research support and grants from AbbVie, BMS, GSK, Pfizer, UCB. AV None to declare. EZ, None to declare. SB, None to declare. GB, None to declare. FJE, None to declare. CF, None to declare. EH, None to declare. FH, None to declare. UML, None to declare. MS, None to declare. JML, None to declare. AV, None to declare. MC, None to declare. MM, None to declare. MMC, has consultancy relationship and/or has received research funding for Actelion, BMS, Celgene, Chemomab, CSL Behring, Eli Lilly and Pfizer; and is a member of the college of emeritus presidents of the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR).