News

High levels of a protein called KL-6, produced by lung cells and secreted into the blood, can predict early signs of lung function worsening in patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), a study reports. Researchers established a value of 1,273 U/mL for KL-6 as a biomarker for SSc-ILD…

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals’ lead cannabinoid-derived treatment candidate, EHP-101, has shown potential to prevent skin and lung tissue scaring in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis, the company reports. Emerald also claims that EHP-101’s therapeutic activity is similar or superior to that seen in ajulemic acid, also known as…

Considerable differences in features of pulmonary hypertension among people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) markedly affect their survival chances, and treatment approaches given should be tailored accordingly, according to an analysis of patients grouped according to lung disease severity. SSc patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) but no evidence — or limited…

Specific traits at the time of diagnosis, including symptoms and lung function status, may predict morbidity and mortality in people with scleroderma, a nine-year follow-up study shows. The age and gender of the patient, type of scleroderma, presence of pulmonary fibrosis or hypertension, and lung function status are among…

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a medical technique used to form detailed pictures of the inside of our bodies, has the potential to detect and diagnose abnormalities in the hearts of patients with scleroderma, a study suggests. According to researchers involved in the study, MRI identified abnormalities in the hearts of…

Treatment with Corbus Pharmaceuticals’ investigative therapy lenabasum (formerly known as anabasum) significantly improves the symptoms of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in a Phase 2 open-label extension study. The latest results from the trial were recently discussed at the 2018 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) held in Amsterdam,…

Genes and microRNAs that are a part of cancer-promoting signaling pathways are also overly active in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, possibly predisposing them to malignancies, a study reports. The study, “Gene Profiling in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Reveals the Presence of Oncogenic Gene Signatures,” was published in the journal…

Approximately 85 percent of Canadians with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) now have access to Actelion’s therapy Uptravi (selexipag) through the country’s publicly funded prescription system. This action follows the conclusion of negotiations about the drug’s price by the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) —…

High-intensity exercise of the arms, or arm cranking, may improve blood circulation in scleroderma patients by increasing the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) and the amount of oxygen consumed in the muscles, according to researchers. Cycling, an exercise for the legs, also increases muscles’ oxygen consumption, but was not…

Treatment with Opsumit (macitentan) and Esbriet (pirfenidone) provided stable improvements in a scleroderma patient with interstitial pneumonia and borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to a Japanese case report. The study, “Systemic scleroderma-related interstitial pneumonia associated with borderline pulmonary arterial hypertension,” was published…