Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Blood levels of CCL24 are elevated in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients compared to healthy people, according to a recent scientific presentation. Consistent with previous studies, higher CCL24 levels correlated with SSc severity, a threefold greater risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) progression, and shorter five-year survival rates. “These…

Older age, problems in the larynx, or voice box, and being positive for certain autoantibodies is associated with a higher risk of having dysphagia — difficulty swallowing — in scleroderma patients, according to a single-center study. Esophageal dysmotility, when foods and liquids do not easily pass down the esophagus,…

Elevated blood levels of the cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) are linked with more severe interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and may be a marker of disease activity, a study from Japan reports. “Our results suggest that serum [blood] CIRP levels may serve as a useful…

A woman developed scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis (SSc), after she contracted COVID-19, according to a case report that highlights the challenges of treating complex autoimmune conditions. Treatment with a corticosteroid led to scleroderma renal crisis, “highlighting the risk of steroid use in all patients with systemic sclerosis,”…

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), where the lungs become scarred, are more than three times more likely to be hospitalized due to respiratory failure, according to real-world data collected in the U.S. Other strong risk factors for respiratory failure among hospitalized SSc patients included pneumonia…

More than 30% of people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are dissatisfied with their lives, and higher levels of dissatisfaction are reported by racial minority groups, a U.S.-based study has found. The spiritual well-being of patients was the strongest contributor to life satisfaction scores. These scores were found to be significantly…

The levels of three blood proteins — endostatin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) beta subunit — may help predict the risk of progression from early to definite systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a new study. “In particular, endostatin was the protein most strongly associated with…

COVID-19 prompted blood vessel damage and a reduced blood flow to the limbs — a condition known as ischemia — in a girl with scleroderma (SSc), a case report described. The girl was ultimately discharged from the hospital after four weeks of inpatient treatment with blood vessel wideners known…

Moderate doses of oral prednisolone, a corticosteroid, given for a short period may help to ease symptoms in people with early diffuse cutaneous scleroderma (dcSSc), a Phase 2 trial suggests. The study, intended to assess whether moderate dose of corticosteroids are safe and effective for early dcSSc, was affected…

People who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are at greater risk for developing autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma (SSc), according to a large study. The findings support recent evidence that viral infections may increase the likelihood of autoimmune conditions, although the mechanisms remain unknown. “It is…