SSc participant characteristics
| UCLA-SSc participants (N=17) | OUH-SSc participants (N=17) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | Median 52.1 (IQR 46.6–63.0) | 60.5 (IQR 46.0–71.0) |
| Female | 15 (88.2%) | 12 (70.6%) |
| Race | ||
| White | 9 (52.9%) | 16 (94.1%) |
| Asian | 2 (11.8%) | 0 |
| More than one race | 4 (23.5%) | 0 |
| Other | 2 (11.8%) | 0 |
| Hispanic | 6 (35.3%) | 1 (5.9%) |
| BMI | 24.0 (4.2) | 24.5 (3.6) |
| Diffuse cutaneous disease | 6 (35.3%) | 7 (41.2%) |
| SSc disease duration (years) | Median 6.6 (IQR 2.5–16.4) | Median 7.0 (IQR 1.0–19.2) |
| Early SSc (<3 years) | 4 (23.5%) | 7 (41.2%) |
| ANA positive | 15/16 (93.8%) | 17/17 (100%) |
| Scl-70 positive | 3/11 (27.3%) | 4/17 (23.5%) |
| Anticentromere positive | 5/11 (45.5%) | 9 (52.9%) |
| HRCT-defined interstitial lung disease | 12/17 (70.6%) | 8/17 (47.1%) |
| Current prednisone use* | 3 (17.6%) | 2 (11.8%) |
| Current other immunosuppressant use† | 6 (35.3%) | 2 (11.8%) |
| Current use of probiotic oral supplement‡ | 3 (17.6%) | 3 (17.6%) |
| Current use of proton pump inhibitor | 10 (58.8%) | 5 (29.4%) |
| Current SSc disease activity | ||
| MRSS>18 | 3 (17.6%) | 5 (29.4%) |
| Increase in MRSS | 2 (11.8%) | 3 (17.6%) |
| Digital ulcers | 4 (23.5%) | 4 (23.5%) |
| Tendon friction rubs | 2 (11.8%) | 3 (17.6%) |
| DLCO<70% predicted | 10 (58.8%) | 8 (47.1%) |
| GIT 2.0 total score | Mean 0.7 (0.6)§ | Mean 0.6 (0.5)§ |
| Distension/bloating | Mean 1.5 (0.9)§ | Mean 1.2 (0.8)§ |
| Diarrhoea | Mean 0.4 (0.6)¶ | Mean 0.3 (0.3)¶ |
| Faecal soilage | Mean 0.5 (0.9)¶ | Mean 0.3 (0.6)¶ |
| Constipation | Mean 0.7 (0.7)§ | Mean 0.6 (1.1)§ |
| Emotional well-being | Mean 0.5 (0.7)§ | Mean 0.5 (0.7)§ |
| Social functioning | Mean 0.5 (0.5)§ | Mean 0.4 (0.6)¶ |
Values are n (%), except where otherwise noted.
*Dosages of prednisone were ≤10 mg daily.
†Immunosuppressant medications used included mycophenolate (UCLA: N=1; OUH: N=2) and azathioprine (UCLA: N=2).
‡Probiotic used in the UCLA-SSc cohort included culturelle (N=1), florify (N=1) and align (N=1). For the OUH-SSc cohort, patients consumed probiotic enriched sour milk products (N=3). Probiotics were not consumed within 3 weeks of the stool collection.
§Score indicates moderate symptom severity.14
¶Score indicates mild symptom severity.14
ANA, anti-nuclear antibody; BMI, body mass index; DLCO, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; GIT, gastrointestinal tract; HRCT, high-resolution CT; MRSS, Modified Rodnan Skin Score; OUH, Oslo University Hospital; SSc, systemic sclerosis; UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles.