No abstract

A preliminarily revised SSc activity index has been developed and validated, providing a valuable tool for clinical practice and observational studies.

In addition to well-characterised predictive factors, PuFi is an important sign raising suspicion for underlying very early SSc in patients with RP. The relevance of PuFi in ANA- RP patients should be clarified.

The cost-of-illness of SSc is high with a dominance of productivity loss related costs. Moreover, the disease activity is an important cost driver.