Benign breast disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc) . a case-control study
McKendry, R.J.; Cyr, M.; Dale, P.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 10(3): 235-239
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-856X PMID: 1582068 Document Number: 390598
We hypothesized that Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) may affect the breast in the form of Benign Breast Disease (BBD). For the purpose of this study BBD was defined as breast symptoms either detected by the patient resulting in physician consultation, or detected by a physician during the course of a routine consultation, or detected by a physician during the course of a routine physical exam. Forty-one of 47 women with SSc were matched to case controls from two disease groups (RA and OA). Case matching was done for age (+/- 5 years), disease duration (+/- 3 years) and gender. A structured telephone interview was administered to all subjects and controls to determine the frequency of BBD and associated risk factors. The SSc group had a higher prevalence of BBD compared to the RA group (12/41 versus 4/41, p less than 0.04). However, a similar proportion of the SSc patients and OA case controls had BBD (7/28 versus 9/28). These differences could not be attributed to any of the evaluated risk factors. The RA group had a higher frequency and longer duration of NSAID use, suggesting that the increased use of NSAIDs in the RA patients may account for the lower prevalence of BBD, although genetic, hormonal or undetermined factors may be operative. Without an age-matched, "healthy" general population control group it is impossible to determine if the observed difference in prevalence of BBD represents a less than normal prevalence in RA or a greater than normal prevalence in SSc and OA.