Clinical and autoantibody associations with malignancy in systemic sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Rheumatology (Oxford)Sep 1, 2026
Jaivikash Raghupathy, Wei Shan Teoh, Abhiram Kanneganti et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated factors linked to malignancy in 27,624 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The study found that patients with malignancy developed SSc at an older age (mean difference +4.01 years). Significant associations included male gender, smoking, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, and specific autoantibodies.
Key findings
- Patients with malignancy developed SSc at an older age (MD +4.01, 95% CI 1.24-6.78).
- Male gender was associated with malignancy (OR 1.36).
- Interstitial lung disease was linked to malignancy (OR 1.41).
- Anti-RNAPIII was associated with breast malignancy (OR 2.17).
Why it matters
Understanding the clinical and autoantibody associations with malignancy in systemic sclerosis can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and tailor surveillance strategies, potentially improving early detection and outcomes.