“Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Versus UVA 1 in Treatment of Localized Scleroderma,” a clinical trial currently recruiting patients, is looking to add another possible remedy to the list for systemic sclerosis (SSc). In the trial, fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment will be compared against UVA1…
An ongoing clinical trial is evaluating RoActemra/Actemra (tocilizumab) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche, this clinical trial is in phase 3, with primary outcomes of a change in modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) and incidence of adverse events. Currently…
Certain patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) may be at a higher risk for malignancies based on autoantibodies present in their blood. Specifically, work presented by Dr. Cosimo Bruni at the 2014 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, “An Association of Anti-PM/Scl Antibody Reactivity with Risk of Malignancy…
Fibrosis and metabolism: the two were recently linked in a study presented at the 2014 American College of Rheumatology Meeting in November. “Adiponectin Is an Endogenous Anti-Fibrotic and Target in Systemic Sclerosis: Novel Link Between Fibrosis and Metabolism,” presented by Dr. Feng Fang from Northwestern…
New Scleroderma-related findings have linked two variations of the disease, which in turn could lead to effective, new biomarkers and targeted treatments for patients. Two clinically different diseases, localized scleroderma (LS) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), can be characterized by similar T-cell produced cytokines and chemokines in pediatric patients,…
A group from Massachusetts General Hospital is placing possible blame for systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis on autotaxin (ATX), an enzyme involved in the production of the lipid signaling molecule lysophophatidic acid (LPA). Dr. Falvia V. Castelino, a researcher in the Rheumatology Department, presented the group’s work, “…
Federal University of São Paulo recently initiated a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the use of probiotics in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) to determine the efficacy and safety of treating gastrointestinal symptoms of SSc. As an autoimmune disease, SSc may benefit from probiotics due to their ability to…
At times, a major roadblock to conducting clinical trials is enrolling enough patients to fill a study for appropriate data analyses. This may not be the case for studies involving patients with juvenile localized scleroderma (jLS), according to a study from Hackensack University Medical Center. The study, led by…
Recently, autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has become more popular in treating patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Canadian SSc patients have actually been seeking out experimental AHSCT treatments in the United States to aid their…
Closely examining the capillaries of the fingers, perhaps one of the most non-invasive procedures possible, may be provide insight into pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). A research group from Spain, led by Drs. Ivan Castellvi and Jordi Casademont, identified worse forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity…
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