Reassessing the Role of the Active TGF-β1 as a Biomarker in Systemic Sclerosis: Association of Serum Levels with Clinical Manifestations
Table 2
Associations of TGF-β1 levels with organ involvement in systemic sclerosis .
Organ involvement
Status
TGF-1 levels (pg/mL)
p value
Median [IQR]
Unpaired t-test
Model 1
Model 2
Model 3
Diffuse cutaneous subset
+
100.1 [58.5–191.5]
0.10
0.01
0.02
0.02
−
81.9 [39.4–134.0]
Digital ulcer
+
113.8 [66.0–187.3]
0.02
NS
NS
NS
−
60.1 [44.4–125.1]
Esophageal dysfunction
+
111.0 [55.4–161.8]
0.63
NS
NS
NS
−
82.9 [59.0–118.0]
Lung fibrosis
+
153.2 [81.3–180.2]
0.004
0.005
0.004
<0.0001
−
64.7 [43.5–116.6]
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
+
81.3 [55.4–134.8]
0.99
NS
NS
NS
−
96.3 [55.4–163.8]
Muscle involvement
+
106.9 [60.8–159.1]
0.48
NS
NS
NS
−
82.9 [44.1–157.7]
Arthritis
+
81.3 [43.2–151.1]
0.40
NS
NS
NS
−
96.6 [58.5–163.0]
Antitopoisomerase I
+
100.1 [67.6–232.6]
0.04
0.03
NS
0.03
−
57.6 [34.7–131.6]
Model 1 = adjusted for age and gender; Model 2 = adjusted for age, gender, and disease duration; and Model 3 = adjusted for age, gender, disease duration, and treatment. NS = not significant.
