Association between systemic sclerosis and venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis: a meta-analysis

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the published data pertaining to the correlation between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: We conducted manual searches and explored MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases to review papers reporting the risk of VTE in patients with SSc. A meta-analysis was performed exploring the relative risks (RRs) of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and VTE in these individuals. Results: Six trials that included 41,105 patients with SSc were eligible for inclusion. A meta-analysis of the six included studies revealed a statistically significant correlation (RR 2.372, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.608-3.500, p < 0.001) between the risk of VTE and SSc. Regional subgroup study revealed a strong correlation between SSc and VTE risk in Americans, Europeans, and Asians. Additionally, a significant correlation between SSc and PE risk was observed (RR 3.154, 95% CI = 1.320-7.539, p = 0.010). Finally, the meta-analysis revealed a substantial correlation (RR 5.190, 95% CI = 1.513-17.01, p = 0.009) between the risk of DVT and SSc. Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that SSc is linked to an increased risk of DVT, PE, and VTE. This finding underscores the importance of close monitoring for the emergence of these conditions in patients with SSc.