Frost DB, et al. - Serum estradiol (E2) in 83 males with diffuse cutaneous (dc)Systemic sclerosis (SSc) of age > 50 years from the University of Pittsburgh Scleroderma Center vs similar aged healthy controls were estimated in the relationship with disease characteristics and survival. They noticed higher levels of serum E2 in dcSSc candidates > 50 years old vs healthy controls and dcSSc post-menopausal females. They observed an association of raised serum E2 levels with heart involvement, the trend to the progression of dermal fibrosis, and, if anti-Scl-70 antibody positive, worse survival.