Solvent oriented hobbies and the risk of systemic sclerosis

Objective, To examine whether those participating in solvent oriented hobbi es (SOH) are at greater risk of developing systemic sclerosis (SSc), and if the association is modified by the presence of the anti-Sc170 antibody. Methods. Patients with SSc and controls were recruited from a university ho spital rheumatology clinic. Recreational hobby and occupational histories w ere obtained along with blood samples. Cumulative scores were created for p articipation in SOH. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios associated with SOH exposure after adjustment for sex, age at diagnosis, an d occupational solvent exposure, and to examine the association between SOH exposure and the presence of anti-Sc170. Results. Solvent exposure based on hobbies and occupations was determined f or 178 cases (141 women, 37 men) and 200 controls (138 women, 62 men). Over all participation in SOH was not associated with SSc. However, odds of high cumulative SOH exposure was 3 times greater in those patients with SSc tes ting positive for the anti-Sc170 antibody compared to patients testing nega tive (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1, 7.9), and twice as great as controls (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1, 5.9). Conclusion. While patients with SSc did not participate more often in SOH t han controls over all, odds of high cumulative SOH exposure was greater amo ng patients with SSc testing positive for anti-Sc170 compared to those test ing negative and compared to controls. These results provide further eviden ce that environmental agents may play a role in the development of Ssc.