Serum metabolite differences detected by HILIC UHPLC-Q-TOF MS in systemic sclerosis.

These findings suggested that metabolic profiles and pathways differed between SSc patients and healthy people, potentially providing new targets for SSc-directed therapeutics and diagnostics. Key Points • Metabolic profiles and pathways differed between SSc patients and healthy people. • The levels of trans-dehydroandrosterone are substantially lower in lcSSc than in dcSSc, potentially providing new targets for SSc patients with skin involvement. • L-glutamine could be used as a serum metabolic marker and a therapeutic target for SSc patients with lung involvement.