Table 2 CD68⁺, CD3⁺, CD20⁺ and CD138⁺ cell counts on paired skin specimens in the 28 patients with SSc

CD68⁺ mean (SD)

26.3 (8.3)^a

13.6 (6.1)^a

0.001

CD68⁺ median (range)

24.5 (12.0–40.0)

12.5 (3.0–25.0)

CD3⁺ mean (SD)

71.7 (34.6)^a

45.7 (36.0)^a

0.001

CD3⁺ median (range)

70.0 (7.0–146.0)

29.8 (1.0–130.0)

CD20⁺ mean (SD)*

4.7 (5.9)^b

1.9 (2.9)^b

0.04

CD20⁺ median (range)

2.0 (0.0–25.0)

1.0 (0.0–11.5)

CD138⁺ mean (SD)

3.6 (2.3)^a

1.9 (1.7)^c

< 0.001

CD138⁺ median (range)

3.0 (0.5–11.5)

1.5 (0.0–9.0)