“…Compared to other autoimmune connective tissue diseases, SRC has the worst prognosis (Ferri, et al, 2002;LeRoy et al, 1988). Predictors of poor outcome in SRC include male gender, age above fifty years, cardiac disease and dcSSc with extensive skin sclerosis (higher skin score) (Denton, Lapadula, Mouthon, & Muller-Ladner, 2009;Teixeira, et al, 2008). Normal blood pressure at presentation has also been associated with a poor prognosis (Medsger, Masi, Rodnan, Benedek, & Robinson, 1971;Penn, et al, 2007;Teixeira, et al, 2008).…”