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Levels of a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule, called interleukin (IL)-6, are significantly high in skin lesions and blood samples of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), especially among those with diffuse cutaneous SSc, a small Japanese study reports. The study, “IL-16 expression is increased in the skin and sera of…

Patients with scleroderma show more frequent and/or stronger immune responses against the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), suggesting a role in disease development, according to new research. The findings also revealed a correlation between these viral responses and scleroderma-associated autoantibodies. The study, “A comprehensive analysis of antigen-specific antibody…

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with elevated protein in their urine (proteinuria) who are using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEi) are at higher risk of developing scleroderma renal crisis (SRC), a retrospective study shows. The study, “Systemic sclerosis mediations and risk of scleroderma renal crisis,” was published in the…

Some people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are protected from cancer development by the presence of anti-RNA polymerase I autoantibodies, a study suggests. The study, “Scleroderma patients with antibodies against the large subunits of both…

Screening newborns for genetic diseases with treatments that can prevent crippling or deadly progression, especially for rare disorders, has a ways to go in the United States. No state today tests for all 35 disorders recommended under a federal screening panel, and even in those that come close, rare…

Oklahoma suffers more tornadoes than any other state, has the highest per-capita rate of women in U.S. prisons, ranks second in the number of teen births per 100,000 teenage girls, and has the nation’s third-highest rate of uninsured residents — with 13.9% of all Oklahomans lacking health coverage. As if…

Abatacept, a potential treatment for people with early-stage diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), showed clinically significant improvements in patients’ functional ability and overall health, despite failing to significantly reduce skin thickening, a Phase 2 study concluded.  The study, “Abatacept…

The Arthritis Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended — via a 10-7 vote — the approval of Ofev (nintedanib) for the treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Ofev, marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim, is…

A subgroup of patients with rapidly progressive diffuse cutaneous scleroderma (dcSSc) experienced a relapse of skin manifestations shortly after stopping or lowering the dose of CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil), according to a five-year study. The findings also showed rapid improvements after restarting CellCept, and revealed that patients with faster…

Blood levels of three types of immune cells — neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes — may be associated with digital ulcers and disease severity in systemic sclerosis, researchers report. Their study, “Association of simple hematological parameters with disease manifestations, activity, and severity in patients with systemic sclerosis,”…