Clinical significance of serum hyaluronan levels in systemic sclerosis: Association with disease severity

Objective. To determine any clinical association of serum levels of hyaluronan in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods. Hyaluronan levels in serum samples from patients with SSc (n = 66) and hyaluronan expression in skin were assessed. Results. Serum hyaluronan levels in SSc patients were higher than those in healthy controls. SSc patients with elevated hyaluronan levels had more frequent involvement of several clinical manifestations and immunological abnormalities compared to those with normal levels. Thus, hyaluronan levels correlated with disease severity. Hyaluronan expression in the sclerotic skin from SSc patients was more intense, relative to expression in normal skin. Conclusion. These results suggest that elevated serum hyaluronan levels are associated with disease severity and immunological abnormalities in patients with SSc.