The presence of different autoantibodies specific to systemic sclerosis (SSc) can determine how the disease is likely to progress in terms of how patients feel or function, which could affect findings in placebo groups in randomized clinical trials and determinations of benefit with an experimental therapy, a study indicates.
Immunosuppressive medications may help to reduce inflammation in the heart and the overall burden of primary heart involvement that is associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a retrospective study suggests. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings, its researchers stated. The study, “Immunosuppressive therapy to treat newly diagnosed…
The CCL2 gene, which codes for a signaling protein of the same name, is “a common characteristic gene” of both systemic sclerosis (SSc) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a serious complication of SSc that causes the lungs to become inflamed and scarred, according to…
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the so-called “good” cholesterol, are linked to more severe symptoms of systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD), a study finds, suggesting that profiling fats in the blood could aid in planning more personalized treatments for the disease. The study, “Metabolomic…
Activating TLR8, a viral defense mechanism involved in tissue fibrosis (scarring), primes monocytes isolated from the blood of people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) to produce excess amounts of a a molecule called IL-10 that can contribute to the abnormal growth of fibrotic tissue. The finding opens up possibilities for…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to Aisa Pharma’s Profervia (cilnidipine), an investigational oral calcium channel blocker also known as AISA-021, for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc). In its request package for the designation, the company included data from an ongoing…
Higher circulating levels of a protein called thymic stromal lymphopoietin, or TSLP, may be linked to a greater risk of digital ulcers — sores in the fingers and toes — in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, a study revealed. These findings suggest that assessments of…
Long-term treatment with Volibris (ambrisentan), marketed as Letairis in the U.S., may help prevent mild pulmonary vascular disease from developing into pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in people with scleroderma, a study suggested. “Early treatment and close follow-up could be beneficial in this high-risk group,” wrote the researchers…
More than half of people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who hesitated to get vaccinated against COVID-19 were concerned they might have a flare-up, but very few vaccinated patients have reported their symptoms worsening, according to a 2021–2022 survey study. “Even though the peak of the pandemic has passed, COVID-19…
June is awareness month for scleroderma, and this year’s theme chosen by the National Scleroderma Foundation is “Every Journey Matters,” to recognize the unique ways in which each person in the community experiences the disease. To encourage people to stay engaged in the lead-up to World Scleroderma…
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