Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40562681›Full record

ArticleRMD open2025

Computed tomography-derived quantitative imaging biomarkers enable the prediction of disease manifestations and survival in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Malte Maria Sieren, Hanna Grasshoff, Gabriela Riemekasten, Lennart Berkel, Felix Nensa, Rene Hosch, Jörg Barkhausen, Roman Kloeckner, Franz Wegner

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in RMD open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Malte Maria Sieren *Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Luebeck, Germany malte.sieren@uksh.de.ORCID 0000-0002-3669-2892
Hanna Grasshoff *Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lubeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
Gabriela RiemekastenDepartment of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Lübeck Campus, Lubeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
Lennart BerkelInstitute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Luebeck, Germany.
Felix NensaInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Rene HoschInstitute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Jörg BarkhausenInstitute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Luebeck, Germany.
Roman KloecknerInstitute of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Luebeck, Germany.
Franz WegnerInstitute of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Luebeck, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex inflammatory vasculopathy with diverse symptoms and variable disease progression. Despite its known impact on body composition (BC), clinical decision-making has yet to incorporate these biomarkers. This study aims to extract quantitative BC imaging biomarkers from CT scans to assess disease severity, define BC phenotypes, track changes over time and predict survival. MATERIALS AND

methodsCT exams were extracted from a prospectively maintained cohort of 452 SSc patients. 128 patients with at least one CT exam were included. An artificial intelligence-based 3D body composition analysis (BCA) algorithm assessed muscle volume, different adipose tissue compartments, and bone mineral density. These parameters were analysed with regard to various clinical, laboratory, functional parameters and survival. Phenotypes were identified performing K-means cluster analysis. Longitudinal evaluation of BCA changes employed regression analyses.

resultsA regression model using BCA parameters outperformed models based on Body Mass Index and clinical parameters in predicting survival (area under the curve (AUC)=0.75). Longitudinal development of the cardiac marker enabled prediction of survival with an AUC=0.82. Patients with altered BCA parameters had increased ORs for various complications, including interstitial lung disease (p<0.05). Two distinct BCA phenotypes were identified, showing significant differences in gastrointestinal disease manifestations (p<0.01).

conclusionThis study highlights several parameters with the potential to reshape clinical pathways for SSc patients. Quantitative BCA biomarkers offer a means to predict survival and individual disease manifestations, in part outperforming established parameters. These insights open new avenues for research into the mechanisms driving body composition changes in SSc and for developing enhanced disease management tools, ultimately leading to more personalised and effective patient care.

Indexed as

BiomarkersScleroderma, SystemicTomography, X-Ray ComputedAdultAgedBody CompositionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisProspective StudiesSeverity of Illness IndexBiomarkersBone DensityMachine LearningMortalitySystemic Sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID40562681
PMCPMC12198789

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.