Applying the ACR/EULAR Systemic Sclerosis Classification Criteria to the Spanish Scleroderma Registry Cohort

Objective. To compare American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc) with previous American Rheumatology Association (ARA) criteria. Methods. This was a cross-sectional multicenter study comparing sensitivity of both criteria in the cutaneous subsets in the Spanish scleroderma registry (RESCLE) cohort. Results. In 1222 patients with SSc, the most prevalent items were Raynaud phenomenon (95%), skin thickening (91%), and abnormal capillaroscopy (89%). ARA criteria classified as SSc 63.5% of all patients, and 63%, 100%, 11.2%, and 0% in the limited, diffuse, sine, and pre-SSc subsets, respectively. ACR/EULAR criteria classified 87.5% of all patients and 98.5%, 100%, 41.8%, and 15.9% in the same subsets, respectively. Conclusion. ACR/EULAR criteria are more sensitive than ARA criteria, especially in limited, sine, and pre-SSc subsets.