الفهرس 
SYSTEMIC SCLEROSISOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: MMP-7 is a metalloproteinase which targets a broad range of extracellular matrix proteins, was originally found to be highly overexpressed in IPF lungs .
Aim of study: To evaluate the relation between serum level of MMP-7 and interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Patients and methods: Serum MMP-7 levels were measured in thirty scleroderma patients.Twenty patients with IPF and ten patients without IPF. PFTs and HRCT of chest were applied with assessment of fibrosis score.
Results: MMP-7 serum level of patients with IPF was significantly higher compared with those without IPF. Significant negative correlation between MMP-7 and FVC and FEV-1. Significant positive correlation between MMP-7 level and fibrosis scoring systems of HRCT.
Conclusions: Elevated MMP-7 levels are associated with an advanced stage of SSc and IPF. These data suggest that in SSc MMP-7 is involved in the process of lung fibrosis. Serum MMP-7 can be used as a predictive biomarker and screening test for early detection of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis