According to the existence of subclinical organ involvement pre-scleroderma should be divided into two subsets: very early and early disease. Pre-scleroderma patients included in the Spanish Scleroderma Registry (RESCLE) Cohort were reclassified into subsets. Differences were evaluated and the risk of progression to definite systemic sclerosis was estimated.

The characteristics of very early and early SSc patients were compared. A logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors of progression.

1632 patients were included, 36 (2.2%) in the very early subset and 111 (6.8%) in the early subset. There were no differences in sex, age at disease onset, duration of Raynaud's phenomenon, antinuclear antibodies or capillaroscopic findings. Three (8.3%) very early SSc patients evolved to definite SSc, 2 (5.6%) of them meeting the ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria, unlike 31 (28%) early SSc patients, 20 (24%) of them meeting the criteria (p = 0.034). Digestive involvement was an independent risk factor of progression (OR 17; 95% CI, 6.1–47.2).

The classification of early forms of scleroderma identifies patients with different prognostic risk of progression. The evolution to definite SSc is more frequent in early than in very early SSc patients. Digestive involvement is a risk factor of progression. An active assessment of organ damage in preclinical stages allows a correct classification and risk stratification, with implications for monitoring and treatment.