Lee Kyung-Ann, Kim Sooyoung, Song Ho-Yeon, Cho Moon Kyun, Kim Hyun-Sook
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
J Rheum Dis. 2024 Oct 1;31(4):244-252. doi: 10.4078/jrd.2024.0032. Epub 2024 Jul 15.
Although the close interactions between the epidermis and dermis of the skin have been widely explored, the skin barrier functions of the stratum corneum (SC) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are not well known. We aimed to investigate the biophysical characteristics of the skin, including transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the SC water content, erythema, and the melanin index, in patients with SSc and pSS.
This case-control study included 34 patients with SSc, 31 patients with pSS, and 25 healthy controls. All parameters were measured on the extensor surface of the forearm and compared between patients and healthy controls. In patients with SSc, we performed subgroup analyses by disease subtype (diffuse and limited cutaneous SSc), the modified Rodnan skin sclerosis score (>6 or ≤6), and comorbid secondary SS status. In patients with pSS, subgroup analyses were performed by anti-Ro/SSA antibody status and the findings of salivary gland ultrasound.
No statistically significant differences were observed in TEWL or skin hydration between patients with SSc and pSS and healthy controls. In the pSS group, only the erythema index was significantly increased compared to the control group. In subgroup analyses, no significant differences were observed in the extent of TEWL or skin hydration by disease subtype, severity, autoantibody profile, or comorbidities.
Patients with SSc or pSS did not exhibit specific impairments of skin barrier function or skin hydration. Further studies with larger sample sizes and age-matched controls are required.
尽管皮肤表皮与真皮之间的紧密相互作用已得到广泛研究，但系统性硬化症（SSc）和原发性干燥综合征（pSS）患者角质层（SC）的皮肤屏障功能尚不明确。我们旨在研究SSc和pSS患者皮肤的生物物理特性，包括经表皮水分流失（TEWL）、SC含水量、红斑和黑色素指数。
本病例对照研究纳入了34例SSc患者、31例pSS患者和25名健康对照者。所有参数均在前臂伸侧进行测量，并在患者与健康对照者之间进行比较。对于SSc患者，我们按疾病亚型（弥漫性和局限性皮肤SSc）、改良Rodnan皮肤硬化评分（>6或≤6）以及合并继发性干燥综合征状态进行亚组分析。对于pSS患者，按抗Ro/SSA抗体状态和唾液腺超声检查结果进行亚组分析。
SSc和pSS患者与健康对照者在TEWL或皮肤水合作用方面未观察到统计学上的显著差异。在pSS组中，与对照组相比，仅红斑指数显著升高。在亚组分析中，按疾病亚型、严重程度、自身抗体谱或合并症分析，TEWL程度或皮肤水合作用方面未观察到显著差异。
SSc或pSS患者未表现出皮肤屏障功能或皮肤水合作用的特定损害。需要进行更大样本量且年龄匹配对照的进一步研究。
