Author Archives: Steve Bryson PhD

A statistical model applied to a widely used measure of skin thickening in people newly diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) identified five classes that may predict organ involvement and survival rates. Using these predictive classes — based on the…

Immune players known as dendritic cells play a key role in scleroderma development in the skin and may represent a new target for effective treatments, a mouse study suggests. The study, “Regulation of skin fibrosis by RALDH1-producing dermal dendritic cells via…

Localized scleroderma affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young people, causing joint and muscle pain, putting limits on physical activity, and hurting body image, a study found. Teasing from peers, unwanted questions from others, and side effects from treatment were…

A large-scale DNA analysis in different tissues revealed an association between scleroderma and groups of genes driving well-known inflammation pathways. This approach helps explain the complex interplay between the diverse genes associated with scleroderma development. It also shows potential to lead to targeted and effective therapies, the investigators…

A Phase 2a clinical trial designed to test Galapagos‘ investigational oral therapy GLPG1690 in people with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma has completed enrolling participants, the company announced. GLPG1690 is a small molecule that targets and blocks autotaxin. This enzyme…

People with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma (dcSSc) being treated with lenabasum continue to show improvement after more than two years of the therapy, an update from a Phase 2 extension study shows. The research, “…

Digital ulcers (DUs) aggravate hand disability, limit daily activities, and affect work productivity in people with scleroderma, a real-world study from Spain reports. Patients with DUs had more pain, a higher incidence of Raynaud’s phenomenon, and reported having…

Immunosuppressive treatment of early-stage interstitial lung disease (ILD) in people with systemic sclerosis may be a potential therapeutic option to prevent ILD progression, a study suggests.  The study, “Association between immunosuppressive therapy and course of mild interstitial lung disease…

Some people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are protected from cancer development by the presence of anti-RNA polymerase I autoantibodies, a study suggests. The study, “Scleroderma patients with antibodies against the large subunits of both…

Abatacept, a potential treatment for people with early-stage diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), showed clinically significant improvements in patients’ functional ability and overall health, despite failing to significantly reduce skin thickening, a Phase 2 study concluded.  The study, “Abatacept…