CARBOXYTERMINAL TYPE I PROCOLLAGEN PEPTIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: HIGHER LEVELS IN EARLY DIFFUSE DISEASE

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by increased collagen deposition in skin and internal organs, and increased serum concentrations of different connective tissue metabolites have been reported. In this study serum concentrations of carboxyterminal type I (PICP) and aminoterminal type III procollagen peptide (PIIINP) were higher in 24 patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dSSc), than in 30 patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lSSc). Thirty patients with advanced and progressing disease had higher serum concentrations of both peptides than 24 patients with milder disease. In patients with advanced disease, both peptides showed a negative correlation to disease duration. Despite being relatively higher both in early, widespread and advanced disease, serum PICP concentrations varied only within the normal range for healthy controls. Thus PICP is of limited value as a marker of disease activity in SSc.