The immunosuppressant everolimus, carried aboard droplets of fat (liposomes) to lung cells may ease scarring and inflammation linked to systemic scleroderma (SSc), a study with aged mice found. The findings provide “preclinical evidence of everolimus as an efficient drug to reduce lung fibrosis [scarring] and inflammation,” its researchers wrote.
Blocking the activity of calpain proteins reduced scarring in the skin and inflammation in the lungs in a mouse model of scleroderma, a new study shows, suggesting these proteins may be therapeutic targets for this disease. The study, “Myeloid cell-specific deletion of Capns1 prevents macrophage polarization…
The immunosuppressant rituximab may help stabilize lung function in people with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), a study suggests. The study,“Rituximab treatment for systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease – A case series of 13 patients,” was published in the Internal Medicine Journal. Rituximab, a medication that…
Daily oral treatment with zibotentan, a blocker of the endothelin protein receptor, was found safe, and possibly may be able to improve kidney function in scleroderma patients with kidney disease, a Phase 2 trial shows. The study, “Zibotentan in systemic sclerosis-associated chronic kidney disease: a phase II randomised…
Fewer than one in five scleroderma patients seek help from mental health services, an international study found. The patients most often turned to general practitioners as their providers of mental health care, followed by psychologists and psychiatrists. The study, “Mental health care use and associated factors in systemic…
Watermelon stomach, a condition in which the stomach lining bleeds, is an early and relatively common manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc) — especially among patients with diffuse disease — that is associated with worse quality of life, a study in Australia shows. Officially gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), the…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Thermo Fisher Scientific to market its blood tests for diagnosing scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), two autoimmune diseases. “Autoimmune diseases can be a challenge to diagnose. Reliable and accurate laboratory tests that provide clinical clarity are essential…
The National Organization for Rare Disorders’ (NORD) “Living Rare, Living Stronger Patient and Family Forum” is back in person on June 26 for a day of learning and networking in Cleveland, Ohio. The event, which brings together the rare disease community, will take place at the InterContinental Cleveland Conference…
The immunosuppressant Rituximab may ease arthritis — an inflammation of the joints — in patients with long-standing systemic sclerosis (SSc), a small Turkish study found. Moreover, in some patients, skin and lung symptoms either remained stable or eased, the researchers also observed. “The factors and markers affecting the treatment…
June is Scleroderma Awareness Month, and the scleroderma community is working to increase awareness of this rare disease with several campaigns. In a video released at the start of the month, the National Scleroderma Foundation is asking everyone to “know scleroderma.” “To know scleroderma is to understand…
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