News

A statistical model applied to a widely used measure of skin thickening in people newly diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) identified five classes that may predict organ involvement and survival rates. Using these predictive classes — based on the…

The types of autoantibodies a person has are a better predictor of scleroderma prognosis than whether the person has other connective tissue diseases, a study reports. The study, “Clinical characteristics and survival in systemic sclerosis-mixed connective tissue disease and systemic sclerosis-overlap syndrome,” was published in the journal…

A pre-clinical stage preceding the development of digital ulcers could provide a window of opportunity for treatment before serious tissue damage occurs in people with scleroderma, according to a new study. The study was summarized in a letter to the editor titled, “Patient experiences of digital ulcer development…

An abundance of events are afoot around the world to mark Rare Disease Day 2020 on Feb. 29. The activities are focused on heightening awareness about rare diseases and the hundreds of millions of individuals they are thought to affect. Patients, caregivers, and advocates worldwide will sport denim ribbons…

A long RNA molecule called HOTAIR is produced in excess in people with scleroderma and controls the activation of myofibroblasts, key cells in the progression of this disease, according to a study. The finding expands the understanding of how to target biological drivers of scleroderma, and offers a potential…

Changes in four DNA spots influence the risk of developing both scleroderma and Crohn’s disease, researches found. One of the spots hadn’t previously been associated with either disease. The variants had opposing effects in susceptibility, “thus highlighting the complex effects that shared associations have on disease outcomes,” the…

Privigen — an approved therapy for a range of immune-related conditions — has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of systemic scleroderma. Orphan drug designation is given to investigational therapies with the potential to be safe and effective…

Researchers have come up with a new, patient-reported questionnaire to measure the impact of digital ulcers on hand function in people with scleroderma. The questionnaire, “Hand Disability in Systemic Sclerosis-Digital Ulcers (HDISS-DU),” was developed using patient interviews and trial data. It can be useful in evaluating the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a vast government bureaucracy, employs about 17,500 people and had a budget of $5.7 billion in 2019. Yet even with its enormous resources, the FDA these days relies more and more on patients to…

The levels of an immunosuppressive protein called human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) are significantly higher in the immune cells of people with scleroderma or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), suggesting its potential role in controlling impaired immune responses in these diseases, a study has found. However, further studies…