Reduced exercise capacity in systemic sclerosis patients without pulmonary involvement

Objective: To evaluate the exercise capacity of women with systemic sclerosis (SSc) without pulmonary involvement using a cardiopulmonary stress test.Methods: Thirteen consecutive female SSc patients [mean age 40.8±14 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 25.5±3.7 kg/m2] without pulmonary and cardiac involvement and 13 healthy sedentary female controls (mean age 41.6±9.1 years, mean BMI 23.7±3.8 kg/m2) matched by age and BMI underwent a maximum cardiopulmonary stress test (Bruce protocol). The following parameters were analysed: peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), respiratory compensation point (RCP) and metabolic equivalent (MET) of the VO2peak. Comparisons between groups were analysed using the Student t‐test.Results: Forced vital capacity (FVC; 92.2±14.2% predicted) and carbon monoxide diffusion lung capacity (DLCO; 85.8±5.8% predicted) were within the normal range in SSc patients. VO2peak of SSc patients was significantly reduced in comparison to the control group (19.8±4.6 vs. 23.7±4....