Skin Autofluorescence, as Marker of Accumulation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts and of Cumulative Metabolic Stress, Is Not Increased in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Objective . To investigate whether advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in the skin are increased in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and are related to the presence of disease-related and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Methods . Skin autofluorescence, as a measure for the accumulation of AGEs, was assessed by measuring UV-A light excitation-emission matrices (AF-EEMS) in 41 SSc patients and 41 age- and sex-matched controls. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and disease-related risk factors were recorded. Results . Skin AF-EEMS did not differ between SSc patients and controls (1.68 ± 0.58 a.u. versus 1.63 ± 0.41 a.u., P = 0.684). Skin AF-EEMS in SSc patients was associated with levels of CRP ( r = 0.44, P = 0.004), Medsger's severity scale ( r = 0.45, P = 0.006), and use of agents intervening in the renin-angiotensin system ( r = 0.33, P = 0.027). When analysing SSc patients and controls together, in multivariate analysis, only age and use of agents intervening in the renin-angiotensin system were independently associated with AF-EEMS. Conclusion . These data demonstrate that skin AGEs are not increased in SSc patients.