Foot problems in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objectives. To assess the nature of the foot problems experienced in patien ts with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and patient awareness of such problems. Methods. Fifty unselected patients (42 females, eight males) with SSc were assessed by means of examination by a senior podiatrist, completion of a qu estionnaire detailing past and present foot problems, determination of rand om plasma glucose, plain X-rays of the feet, and measurement of the ankle,; brachial index and of digital pulses by Doppler ultrasound. Results. Eighty-six per cent of patients reported colour changes in their f eet in response to temperature changes, 82%, reported pain usually related to cold, 26% had suffered foot ulceration and 8% had a history of foot surg ery. Podiatry assessment confirmed the presence of significant abnormalitie s, including ulcerations in 10%. pre-ulcerative lesions in 34%, toenail cha nges in 62%, callus formation in 80% and calcinosis in 18%. Forty per cent of the patients had problems with the fitting of shoes, and 19% had been pr ovided with footwear from the hospital. Plain films of the feet demonstrate d the presence of erosions in 6%. soft-tissue calcification in 17%. osteope nia in 26% and degenerative changes in 60% of cases. Ten per cent of the pa tients had an abnormal ankle brachial index (less than 1.0). Only 21% of th e 47 patients in whom digital pulses were examined had normal pulses in all toes, and in 26% all toe pulses were absent. Conclusion. Although problems with the hands are well recognized in SSc, fo ot problems also occur in the majority of patients, and can be a cause of m ajor disability. Care of the feet is therefore an important part of the man agement of SSc.