Association between anti-Topoisomerase I antibody and organ damage in systemic sclerosis at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology

Objectives: To evaluate the association between anti-Topoisomerase (Topo) I antibody and damage of some organs in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Materials and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of 100 patients diagnosed with SSc and were tested for anti-Topo I antibodies by ELISA technique at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology. Results: The average score of general effects, thickened skin lesions, peripheral vascular damages, and lung damages according to the Medsger scale of the group of SSc patients with positive anti-Topo I was higher than SSc patients with negative anti-Topo I (0.93±1.07 vs 0.24±0.44; 1.6±0.7 vs 1.16±0.37; 1.88±0.61 vs 1.36±0.49, and 1.23±0.67 vs 0.84±0.94, respectively). The proportion of patients with joint contractures in the positive anti-Topo I group was higher than in the anti-Topo I negative group (32 vs 12%). The proportion of patients with severe and very severe organ damage in the anti-Topo I positive group was higher than in the anti-Topo negative group. There was no association between the presence of anti-Topo I and heart or digestive damage. Conclusions: Anti-Topo I antibodies were associated with the level of general effects, peripheral vascular damage, skin thickening, and pulmonary fibrosis. The presence of anti-Topo I antibodies would be a poor prognostic factor for patients with SSc.