Identification of Clonal T Cells in the Blood of Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

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Abstract
SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by humoral and cellular immune abnormalities that are associated with excessive deposition of collagen and obliterative vasculopathy primarily within the skin and frequently within visceral organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and digestive tract.1 The development of SSc is influenced by age, race, genetic factors, and sex. The incidence in women is 3- to 8-fold higher than in men, with a peak incidence after the childbearing years. The prognosis of SSc has been shown to vary depending on the extent of skin thickening and its rate of progression. Patients in whom SSc is restricted to the hands have a 10-year survival of greater than 70%, whereas those with proximal involvement including the trunk have a 10-year survival of approximately 20%.2