Background:
Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem autoimmune disease with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. There is a need to better quantify the skin involvement in this disease so that response to therapy can be accurately measured. In this pilot study, we will investigate electrical impedance as a potential method of non-invasively quantifying skin involvement.
Methods:
Twenty adults with limited or diffuse systemic sclerosis (lSSc or dSSc) meeting the current ACR/EULAR criteria will be compared to age and sex-matched adult controls at a ratio of 1:1. Sites for skin testing will be chosen according to those used for the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS). Impedance spectroscopy will be measured with the Impedimed SFB7 device and Ti2 eBIRD device. Impedance will be compared to the mRSS. For the primary outcome, statistical significance will be determined using the independent samples T-test.
Results:
The primary outcome measure is the difference in skin impedance spectroscopy between SSc patients and healthy controls. Secondary outcomes will examine electrical properties of skin and any possible relationship between measured characteristics and clinical features or serology. Electrical data will be compared to the mRSS for correlation. This data may also be analysed for performance as a diagnostic test.
Conclusions:
TBC