Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic connective tissue disease, characterised by a progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs leading to their failure, morphology and blood vessels disorders as well as the immune system dysfunction. The main two types of SSc are limited systemic sclerosis - lSSc and diffuse systemic sclerosis dSSc. The Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) is a characteristic clinical symptom of this disease. Sclerodactylia, which causes a partial contracture, makes it impossible to both fully flex and extend the fingers. The most common joint complaints include joint pain and morning stiffness. During the progress of SSc, there are also involvement of many organs which are clinically manifested.
Objectives: To identify major health problems of patients with SSc, with differentiation into lSSc and dSSc; to determine the effect of disease duration on the intensity of symptoms; to examine the relation between patients'; complaints and the results of diagnostic tests: pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), lung image (X-Ray and HRCT) and cytology of bronchiolar lavage (BAL) and oesophagus X-Ray.
Methods: The study group consisted of 63 patients with diagnosed SSc according to the ARA criteria. The basic research tool was a survey questionnaire drafted for the needs of this study and the results of diagnostic tests.
Results: RP occurred in almost all the interviewed subjects (94%) with both types of SSc, irrespective of disease duration. More than a half of subjects from both groups (68%) reported pain in arm and leg joints, particularly in the first stage of disease. Finger and feet ulceration (in total 53%) - 67% in dSSc versus 49% in lSSc. Most subjects with SSc (<60%) reported finger dysaesthesia. The intensity of the ailment increased with time. About 68% of subjects on average reported difficulties with swallowing, out of which 70% were lSSc patients, a 40% were dSSc patients (p<0.05). The X-Ray examination of the oesophagus showed a shallow peristaltic wave in 75% patients with this complaint, and it occurred significantly more often in patients who have had lSSc for < 15 years (p<0.05). Over 80% of subjects of both groups reported easy fatigability, irrespective of disease duration. A positive result of HRCT was more often obtained in the group of patients with dSSc (p≤0.05). It has been proved that there is a significant relation between easy fatigability reported by patients and a positive result of HRCT and BAL (p<0.05). Dyspnoea was reported by 60% of patients, irrespective of the clinical form of SSc. Changes in HRCT and BAL were observed in over 60% of patients complaining of dyspnoea.

Conclusion: Joint pain, which is characteristic for early SSc as well as ulceration and finger dysaesthesia may cause significant difficulties in self-care activities; alimentary tract problems affect mainly lSSc patients; SSc-related lung lesions are more often observed in dSSc patients. Subjective symptoms do not always indicate the progression of lesions observed in diagnostic tests.