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Immunosuppressants may help treat scleroderma with heart involvement

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…

Autotaxin protein found at higher levels in women with SSc-ILD

Autotaxin, a protein involved in wound healing and scarring, or fibrosis, was found at higher levels in women with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) than in men with the condition, per a new U.S. study. According to the researchers, “this study is the first to report sex-specific ……

Autoantibodies tied to mortality, organ involvement in scleroderma

Organ involvement and outcomes among people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are strongly associated with seven specific self-reactive antibodies, a French study has found. Among their findings, researchers identified antibodies that targets RNA polymerase III as strongly associated with scleroderma renal crisis, a rare and severe manifestation of SSc marked…

Skin thickness regression linked to better lung health in dcSSc

Reduction in skin thickness may indicate better lung health and survival outcomes in people with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), according to an analysis of patients from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) registry. “Skin regressive patients have a lower probability of lung progression, better survival,” the investigators…