[Mouth opening in patients with systemic sclerosis: base analysis and during follow-up].

Abstract BACKGROUND: A large number of orofacial abnormalities have been described in patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) but no data are reported on the correlation with different subgroups of patients on the efficacy of different therapies. METHODS: In the present study mouth opening was retrospectively evaluated in 40 patients with SSc in whom measurement of interlabial distance was taken at the first clinical control and during follow-up. The data confirmed that the mouth opening is significantly decreased in patients with SSc independently from sclerosis subgroup, age or disease duration. RESULTS: Follow-up (8 +/- 8.3 years) showed a different behaviour of the parameter: in 12 patients (group I) no variation in mouth opening was detected, in 18 patients (group II) a decrease and in 10 patients (group III) an increase was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The only difference between the three groups was the treatment received: 80% of the patients of group III (p < 0.01) have been treated with cyclophosphamide (CF). Our data further support the efficacy of treatment with CF in patients with SSc.