Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with SSc

Age at evaluation of eosinophils (years)

59.3 ± 11.8

60.9 ± 11.9

59.3 ± 12.0

p = 0.681

Age at onset of SSc symptoms (years)

54.4 ± 12.1

53.8 ± 12.1

54.5 ± 12.1

p = 0.846

Age at diagnosis

54.5 ± 11.8

54.5 ± 7.5

54.6 ± 12.5

p = 0.864

Male/female sex (n)

9/61

0/7

9/54

p = 0.583

Diffuse scleroderma-related disease [n (%)]

14 (20)

3 (43)

11 (17)

p = 0.137

Clinical findings

 m-Rodnan TSS

6.2 ± 4.8

11.1 ± 4.1

5.7 ± 7.0

p = 0.029

 Skin edema [n (%)]

47 (67)

5 (71)

42 (67)

p = 1.0

 Skin pruritus [n (%)]

12 (17)

4 (57)

8 (13)

p = 0.014

 Pulmonary hypertension [n (%)]

1 (1)

0

1 (2)

p = 1.0

 GI involvement [n (%)]

9 (13)

1 (14)

8 (13)

p = 1.0

Blood tests

 Total leukocyte counts (/μl)

5857 ± 1430

6100 ± 833

5830 ± 1516

p = 0.373

 Eosinophil counts (/μl)

230 ± 145

552 ± 97

195 ± 97

p < 0.001

 Positive for antinuclear antibody (>40) [n^a (%)]

49/55 (92)

5/5 (100)

44/50 (88)

p = 1.0

 Positive for anti-topoisomerase I [n^a (%)]

7/54 (13)

1/5 (20)

6/49 (12)

p = 0.515

 Positive for anti-centromere antibodies [n^a (%)]

34/56 (61)

3/5 (60)

31/51 (61)

p = 1.0

CT findings

 Presence of ILD [n (%)]

24 (34)

5 (71)

23 (37)

p = 0.107

 ILD grade ≥2 [n (%)]

12 (17)

4 (57)

8 (13)

p = 0.014

X-ray findings

 Presence of ILD [n (%)]

17 (24)

5 (71)

12 (19)

p = 0.008

 ILD grade ≥2 [n (%)]

12 (17)

4 (57)

8 (13)

p = 0.014