News

Macrophages, a type of immune cell, may be mainly responsible for driving fibrosis, or scarring, in people with scleroderma, according to new research done in animal models. “These data suggest that a single cell type, macrophage, may be responsible for inducing scleroderma,” Sanja Arandjelovic, PhD, who co-led the study…

Abnormal fatty acid metabolism may play a role in the development of systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a gene activity analysis. Researchers identified three genes involved in fatty acid metabolism that were significantly dysregulated in SSc patients. These changes correlated with markers of fat metabolism and disease complications, including…

Carbon dioxide ablative fractional laser (CO2-AFL) therapy, a treatment that’s long been used to remove wrinkles, may help reduce skin scarring in people with localized scleroderma, according to a new study. “Overall, CO2-AFL treatment appears to have good therapeutic effects in patients with [localized scleroderma], especially patients who are…

Lower blood levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), an antibody measured through routine blood tests, were linked to poorer health-related quality of life in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), including greater pain, reduced physical function, and higher overall disease burden, a study reports. These findings suggest that blood IgG levels…

Having anti-SSA antibodies, without other common scleroderma-related antibodies present, is linked to shorter survival and faster disease progression in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a recent study from Japan. “These findings support the inclusion of anti-SSA in routine serologic [blood] assessment and underscore the potential utility of…

Dexamethasone, a type of corticosteroid, reduced skin thickening, inflammation, and the activity of genes that induce fibrosis (scarring) in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a study. The study also demonstrated that dexamethasone reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules produced by certain T-cells derived from SSc…

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, “…