News

A new study from France found that treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), known to have anti-fibrotic activity, is effective in improving muscle, joint and digestive tract function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The study, “Intravenous immunoglobulins in systemic sclerosis: data from a French nationwide cohort of 46 patients…

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) linked to scleroderma have worse outcomes than those with idiopathic PAH, with survival times of less than half of iPAH patients. The difference is likely tied to numerous factors, but older age and a poor transfer of gas (abnormal oxygen-carbon monoxide transfer) in the…

People with systemic sclerosis (SSc) frequently experience foot problems, but foot assessment and healthcare for SSc patients are still inadequate, according to new research. The study, “Biomechanical Podiatric Evaluation In An Italian Cohort Of Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: A Pilot Study,” was published in the European Journal of…

Patients with severe forms of systemic sclerosis (SSc) may frequently develop fingernail abnormalities, with such changes affecting four out of five SSc patients in a small study in France. The study, “Nail Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis,” appeared in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD). “Whereas skin abnormalities have been…

A large study following patients in the early stages of diffuse cutaneous scleroderma showed that immunosuppressants offered only a negligible benefit for those who took them, compared to those who didn’t. Since immunosuppressants produced numerically larger reductions in skin symptoms, the findings may support patients using such drugs from the onset of their…

Treating endothelial cells obtained from scleroderma patients with an enzyme called khloto effectively improves their function, according to a study published in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy.

Researchers have found links between several heavy metals and scleroderma, a discovery that prompted them to encourage doctors to check whether their patients had occupational exposure to heavy metals. Interestingly, some metals were associated more with male scleroderma patients and some with females. The study, “Systemic sclerosis and…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Cytori Therapeutics Small Business status for fiscal year 2017, which means Cytori will pay reduced fees for regulatory filings that may arise from initiatives like the Phase 3 trial of its Habeo Cell Therapy for hand dysfunction and Raynaud’s phenomenon associated with scleroderma.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients face significant bodily and social restrictions that undermine their self-image and confidence, and uncertainties about the disease’s cause and prognosis undercut their confidence in their care, according to the a study of patient perceptions. Researchers hope that the data collected for their study — “It’s Not…

Many scleroderma patients show an “excellent” response to a kidney transplant and such surgery should be considered for those with end-stage kidney disease, a study exploring the procedure found. But its researchers also noted that scleroderma patients with lung involvement were the most likely to die after a kidney transplant, indicating that lung health need be included…