Ten years of a systemic sclerosis clinic in a tertiary referral centre - insights and future directions

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon condition, with a wide range of manifestations, characterized by specific antibody production, vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and other internal organs. It is a complex disease, which is estimated to be rare in Portugal, although specific incidence data are missing. The aetiology of SSc remains unknown, but is likely to be multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental aspects. Its management is challenging and often requires a multidisciplinary approach. In 2011, we established a dedicated outpatient clinic for patients with SSc. Clinical data of every patient with a confirmed diagnosis of SSc is prospectively registered in Reuma.pt/SSc. In this manuscript, we aim to describe the general functioning of our SSc outpatient clinic, and to characterise the population of patients with SSc who are followed herein.