[Radiologic changes in the bones of the hand in progressive scleroderma].

27 patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis on both hands were examined through x-ray in two levels. The findings have been evaluated with regard to eight diagnostic criterions and then related to clinical and laboratory data. The results allow the differentiation between two groups of patients: group A revealing obvious radiological and laboratory evidence of inflammation and severe symptoms as well as a relatively short duration of the disease; group B showing fewer inflammatory signs with less developed symptoms and a significantly longer duration of the disease. The clinical and prognostic significance of these two different courses of PSS is discussed with special reference to overlapping syndromes of connective tissue diseases or subclasses of PSS.