Janet Stewart, MSc,  —

A study identified predictors for hospitalization due to lung and heart problems and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients at risk for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Being a man, having a reduced capacity to clear carbon monoxide in the lungs, and having pericardial effusions (accumulation of fluids around the heart) were…

A European Union study found that patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to scleroderma who undergo a kidney transplant have a greater chance of surviving for five years or more, compared to those who receive renal replacement therapy (RRT) only — a treatment involving dialysis, which consists of long-term…

Considerable differences in features of pulmonary hypertension among people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) markedly affect their survival chances, and treatment approaches given should be tailored accordingly, according to an analysis of patients grouped according to lung disease severity. SSc patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) but no evidence — or limited…

A methotrexate (MTX) treatment protocol that includes the administration of glucocorticoids is superior to phototherapy in treating childhood localized scleroderma, a study found. Nonetheless, researchers suggest MTX should be used preferentially in more severe cases of the disease. The study, “Comparing ultraviolet light A photo(chemo)therapy with…

An extension of a Phase 2/3 study testing Actemra (tocilizumab) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) found that skin involvement improved with 48 additional weeks of treatment. A Phase 3 trial looking to confirm these results is now underway. Trial results, were published in the study “Safety and…

An analysis of focus group discussions between patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), or scleroderma, found that participants coped with their disease in three general ways: by concentrating on solutions to a problem and seeking professional help, managing their emotions, and looking for benefits and adjusting goals to the realities of their…

A recent study showed that the classification of patients with pre-scleroderma into “very early systemic sclerosis” (SSc or scleroderma) and “early SSc” groups — based on the existence of subclinical organ involvement — can help improve disease monitoring and care, and better predict patients’ outcomes. The study also showed that patients in the…

Injecting bone marrow cells designed to produce high levels of thioredoxin 1 (Trx-1) restored skin tissue in mice with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to Chinese researchers. Their study, “Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing Thioredoxin 1 Attenuate Bleomycin-Induced Skin Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in Scleroderma,” appeared in the…

The number of white blood cells known as CD16+ monocytes is notably greater in the blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients when skin or lung fibrosis is present, researchers said, recommending that these cells be studied further to determine if they contribute to fibrosis development in SSc. The study, “CD16-positive circulating…

Physician adherence to guidelines for screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) was found to be poor in Australia, according to a multi-center research study that evaluated the percentage of doctors who adhere to recommended SSc guidelines. The study, “Epidemiology and disease…