Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) eases skin scarring in people with diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) by tweaking the levels of molecules involved in tissue remodeling and inflammation, a study from Brazil reported. The study, “Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation promotes connective tissue remodeling in systemic sclerosis patients,” was…
Therapeutic plasma exchange may help ease digestive issues in people with limited systemic scleroderma (lcSSc), new research indicates. Edward Harris of the Scleroderma Education Project presented the findings at the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) annual meeting in Philadelphia earlier this month, in a poster titled, “The Effects…
To kick off Scleroderma Awareness Month, the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) will host a free online patient forum, Collaborating for a Cure, on June 1. The half-day forum will gather leaders from the medical and scientific community so that those who live with scleroderma, and their families and…
Patients with two rare subtypes of systemic sclerosis (SSc) — based on the presence of specific antibodies and the extent of skin involvement — have mild disease courses and specific clinical features, symptoms, and outcomes, a study shows. The data also confirmed that the presence of anti-topoisomerase-I autoantibodies (ATAs)…
People with systemic scleroderma (SSc) who have certain autoantibodies are at increased risk of developing pulmonary hypertension, or high pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs, according to a study in the U.S. Researchers also observed that patients who tested positive for these autoantibodies, called anti-Th/To antibodies,…
Among people with systemic scleroderma (SSc), those who have digital ulcers (DUs) — sores on their fingers or toes — tend to use more healthcare resources, a new study suggests. “Our study demonstrates increased health resource utilization by SSc patients with DUs compared to those without DUs in a…
Local injection with botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) safely and effectively reduces Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) and nailfold small blood vessel, or capillary, abnormalities in women with scleroderma, according to data from a small study in China. Treatment also led to significant improvements in upper limb function in women with…
A Russian military plane crash near Tetiana Zamorska’s home in Kyiv, Ukraine, was a sign that it was time for her and her family to leave. The treacherous, 34-hour pilgrimage that ultimately brought the group of eight by car to temporary accommodations in neighboring Poland last month was physically and emotionally difficult,…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to Gesynta Pharma’s GS-248, its oral therapy for people with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Orphan drug status aims to encourage therapies for rare diseases through benefits such as seven years of market exclusivity and exemption from FDA fees. “The…
A protein that triggers a form of cell death driven by inflammation is present at high levels in the skin of patients with scleroderma, and this suggests it may play a role in the development of the disease, according to a new study. Researchers also observed that the skin…
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