Effects of treatment with rituximab on microcirculation in patients with long-term systemic sclerosis

BMC Research Notes

Table 1 Pulmonary function test and videocapillaroscopy abnormalities mean values at baseline, 12 months and 24 months

Variable	Time 0	Time 1	Time 2	p*
FVC (mean %)	65.0	64.0	68.5	0.65
DLco (mean %)	52.3	53.5	60.0	0.06
Giant capillaries (score 0–3)	0.03	0.02	0.01	0.66
Hemorrhages (score 0–3)	0.10	0.06	0.06	> 0.99
Capillary loss (score 0–3)	1.06	1.05	1.32	0.18
Abnormally shaped capillaries (score 0–3)	0.35	0.50	0.58	> 0.99
Architecture (score 0–3)	0.62	0.59	0.79	0.66
MES	2.04	2.17	2.62	0.93

Observation: The non-random sample was small to demonstrate statistical differences. *It was used the Friedman test which is non-parametric statistical test
FVC forced vital capacity, DL_CO diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, MES microangiopathy evolution score, range 0 (absence of the abnormality) to 3

ISSN: 1756-0500