News

Preliminary data of Cytori Therapeutics’ STAR Phase 3 trial (NCT02396238) demonstrated that the company’s adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) are feasible for the treatment of patients with scleroderma-caused hand dysfunction. The data will be presented in a poster at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/AHRP…

Two approved treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension — Tracleer (bosentan) and Opsumit (macitentan) — can block a molecular pathway that promotes fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and may be a potential therapy for these patients as well, according to an early study. The study, “Bosentan And Macitentan Prevent The Endothelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition (Endomt)…

In this Scleroderma Foundation video, Janet L. Poole, PhD, OTR/L from the University of New Mexico talks us through some sensible tips to help scleroderma patients manage their fatigue at the 2016 Scleroderma National Patient Education Conference in New Orleans. Read our columnist Nicola Whitehill’s take on scleroderma…

An overview of published studies exploring the use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in scleroderma patients indicated that the treatment improved Raynaud’s phenomenon and digital ulcers. Findings also showed that TPE made blood less viscous, improving blood flow and preventing blood vessels from becoming blocked. The findings will be presented at the American…

Corbus Pharmaceuticals recently completed its Phase 2 clinical study (NCT02465437) evaluating the drug Resunab (JBT-101) for the treatment of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. The company expects to report results from this study later this year. Resunab is a novel synthetic oral…

Patients with systemic sclerosis and Raynaud’s syndrome have a high risk of developing other organ complications within two years after the onset of Raynaud’s, according to a study published in the journal PLoS One. The authors reported that these complications mainly occur in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, kidneys and prostate.

A recent study reported that long-term treatment with Tracleer (bosentan) can be beneficial for patients with systemic sclerosis by reducing the risk or delaying the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Systemic sclerosis disease progression can induce PAH and interstitial lung disease, which leads to poor prognosis. The study “Beneficial effects…

Researchers have identified risk factors of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with scleroderma, showing that the risk profiles differ between patients with limited and diffuse cutaneous scleroderma. The study, “Risk factors for development of pulmonary arterial hypertension in Australian systemic sclerosis patients: results from a large…

Exposure to low temperatures and emotional stress triggers the production of norepinephrine (adrenaline), which contributes to skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a new study says. The study, “Mechanistic Insight Into The Norepinephrine-Induced Fibrosis In Systemic Sclerosis”, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was conducted by…

Anti-inflammatory and More: Essential Oils Essentials oils, more widely known as aromatherapy, have been around for centuries.  There’s plenty of research behind the benefits of essentials oils and aromatics. We’ve discovered some ways essential oils may help with scleroderma symptoms.     Like herbs and minerals, the FDA does not regulate essentials…