Infections are not increased in @entity2631 compared to XXXX prior to disease onset.

@entity4789 @entity378 @entity239 @entity883 @entity571 @entity1956 @entity294 @entity924 @entity2348 @entity391 @entity2631 @entity281 @entity2462 @entity85 @entity99 @entity130
The etiology of @entity2631 (SSc) is unknown; immunogenic stimuli such as @entity281 and vaccinations could theoretically be risk factors for @entity2631 . Our objective was to assess the relationship between viral and @entity2348 , and vaccinations, prior to diagnosis of SSc compared to non-inflammatory controls. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to individuals with SSc (n =83) and controls (n=351) with @entity85 ( @entity571 , n = 204; @entity924 , n = 58; @entity239 , n= 89) from a rheumatology practice. Questions ascertained past @entity281 , exposure to infectious agents and vaccination history. RESULTS: The response rate was 78% (SSc) and 56% (MSK controls). The mean age was 56 +/- 1.6 (SSc) and 58 +/- 0.9 (MSK); 88% (SSc) and 82% (MSK) were female. No association between prior @entity281 and SSc was observed. In fact, controls were more likely than SSc subjects to report any @entity281 within 1-year prior to disease diagnosis (35% vs. 16%, p<0.006), or to have suffered a @entity130 to affected joints prior to diagnosis (44% vs. 19%, p<0.0002). Within the 1-year prior to disease diagnosis, controls reported slightly more @entity883 (p<0.2), @entity281 with @entity294 and @entity391 (p<0.3), and antibiotic use (p<0.09), although none of these results were statistically significant. Histories of any @entity99 , @entity2462 , any @entity2348 , and having had a previous positive @entity378 skin test were not significantly different between groups and were actually more often reported by the control subjects. SSc reported slightly more @entity1956 (p<0.08), more @entity4789 (p<0.8) in past, and herpes zoster (p<0.4), although no differences reached significance. CONCLUSION: This study does not support that self-report of symptomatic @entity281 are more likely to occur ever (prior to diagnosis) or within 1-year prior to symptom onset of SSc, or that vaccinations in adulthood trigger SSc.
