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Using combination therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) improves survival in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to the results of a large study in Australia. The study also demonstrated that the choice between a single medication or a combination of therapies did not vary significantly when comparing participants…

Combining rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil was significantly more effective than using either drug alone at reducing skin thickness and improving lung function after one year in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a large French study. The safety profile of the combination therapy was similar to that of…

Physiotherapist-guided telerehabilitation is more effective than self-managed at-home exercises in improving hand mobility and function in women with scleroderma, according to a study conducted in Turkey. “Based on these findings, physiotherapist-guided telerehabilitation is a quality practice that has the potential to increase hand mobility and grip strength in…

The molecular signaling pathway EGFR-STAT1 is key for driving fibrosis (scarring) in scleroderma, according to a new study. The findings suggest that treatments designed to inhibit this pathway could be used to help mitigate fibrosis in scleroderma and other disorders that are characterized by excessive scarring. The study, “…

Limited hand function makes everyday tasks, work, and hobbies difficult for adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to an interview-based study. The loss of hand mobility and strength also affects emotional health and social life. Patients said tasks requiring fine motor skills — such as typing or writing —…

A CAR T-cell therapy being developed by Bristol Myers Squibb eased skin thickness and improved lung function in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), early trial data showed. These initial results for the treatment, BMS-986353, come from the Phase 1 Breakfree-1 clinical trial (NCT05869955), which is testing the therapy’s…

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles — very small, natural particles from cow’s milk — were shown to safely reduce inflammation and scarring in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Because these vesicles carry molecules that can protect and help tissue repair itself, they “have attracted much attention due to their…

In people with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), certain skin features, including levels of specific molecules and cells, depend on disease duration, a study finds. These features, combined with disease duration, allowed researchers to predict patients’ response to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive therapy commonly used for dcSSc. These…

More than a third of adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who develop interstitial lung disease (ILD) see their condition progress, and those who reported increasing shortness of breath in the past month had a higher risk of death — even if their breathing tests have not declined — an…

Researchers in China have identified five genes — COL1A2, COL3A1, COL15A1, THY-1, and CCL19 — that may play a key role in lung complications associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a study. Using bioinformatics analyses of patient tissue samples, the team found that these genes were consistently overactive…