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Deregulation of the microorganisms that naturally populate the skin is associated with increased inflammation and disease duration in patients with systemic sclerosis, a study shows. The study, “Microbiome dysbiosis is associated with disease duration and increased inflammatory gene expression in systemic…

A device designed to continuously record heart rhythm showed that asymptomatic patients with scleroderma have significant arrhythmia, according to a pilot study. Findings also suggested that arrhythmia — irregular heart rhythm — is associated with fibrosis, or scarring, and the levels of cardiovascular biomarkers. The study, “…

Inhibiting the protein PU.1 has potential as a therapy to treat multiple fibrotic diseases, including systemic sclerosis, a new study contends. The study reporting that finding, “PU.1 controls fibroblast polarization and tissue fibrosis,” was published recently in the journal Nature. The PU.1 transcription factor is a central…

Scores of events are afoot worldwide to mark Feb. 28, Rare Disease Day 2019. The activities aim to raise awareness about rare diseases and the millions of people — estimates run as high as 350 million — they are thought to impact. Across countries, patients, caregivers and advocates will paint faces, wear…

Serum levels of E-selectin (sE-selectin) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) are potential prognostic markers of progression and severity in localized scleroderma, according to a recent study. The study, “The correlation between serum E-selectin levels and soluble interleukin-2 receptors with relation to disease activity in localized scleroderma” was published…

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients showed reduced skin thickness and improved lung function after a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) using blood progenitor cells positive for the CD34 marker, a study reports. This finding suggests that CD34-selected autologous HSCT may have additional clinical benefits over conventional autologous HSCT. The study,…

Certain clinical characteristics that researchers suggest could be potentially useful indicators of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients were recently identified in a study. Findings indicated that longer disease duration, positive anti-Scl70 antibody titers, higher white blood cell and platelet counts, greater erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels,…

Treatment with rituximab may help improve the clinical symptoms of calcinosis — the formation of calcium deposits in the skin and muscle — of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, a small study suggests. The study, “Effectiveness and safety of rituximab for the treatment of refractory systemic sclerosis associated calcinosis: A case series…

Among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), those who have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have a distinct pattern of active and silent genes compared with those who develop interstitial lung disease (ILD), a preliminary…

While there are significant differences in how patients with juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) are assessed and screened in the United Kingdom, treatment approaches are consistent, a study has found. The study, “Multi-centre national audit of juvenile localised scleroderma: describing current UK practice in disease assessment and management,” was…