Scleroderma Medical News by Date

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May 2008

Scoring the nailfold microvascular changes during the capillaroscopic analysis in systemic sclerosis patients. The capillaroscopic score was found to be a sensitive tool to quantify and monitor the SSc microvascular damage. Furthermore, the microangiopathy evolution score might be used to survey the evolution of the microvascular damage, as the relative scores increase during the progression of the SSc. (PubMed) Sulli A. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Jun;67(6):885-7. (Also see: Capillaroscopy and Raynaud's)

Intravenous cyclophosphamide in patients with chronic systemic inflammatory diseases: morbidity and mortality. The standard incidence ratio of cancer following iv CYC was increased, although not statistically significantly. No urinary bladder cancer or haemorrhagic cystitis developed even though mesna prophylaxis was not given. (Informa) Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, Vol 37, Iss 2 2008, pp 130 - 134. (Also see: Immunosuppressants and Cancer)

Identification of Target Antigens of Antifibroblast Antibodies(AFAs) in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). AFAs detected in patients with PAH recognize cellular targets playing key roles in cell biology and maintenance of homeostasis. RedOrbit. 05/16/08. (Also see: PAH and Antibodies)

Therapeutic Strategy Combining Intravenous Cyclophosphamide (CYC) Followed by Oral Azathioprine to Treat Worsening Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Systemic Sclerosis: A Retrospective Multicenter Open-label Study. Intravenous CYC followed by oral maintenance immunosuppressive therapy for worsening ILD was well tolerated and was associated with stable or improved PFT in 70% and 51.8% of SSc patients at 6 months and 2 years, respectively. J Rheumatology First Release May 1 2008. (Also see: Medications and Pulmonary Fibrosis)

Autologous stem cell transplantation improves microcirculation in systemic sclerosis. These results indicate that HSCT with high dose CYC regimen may foster vascular remodelling while CYC at lower doses and with a chronic regimen does not influence the microvasculature. Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 28 February 2008. (Also see: Digital Ulcers)

Vasculopathic diseases complicate pregnancy. Women with systemic sclerosis, primary pulmonary hypertension, or sickle cell disease are at increased risk for having complicated pregnancies. For this reason, these women should receive extensive counseling when considering pregnancy. Reuters. 04/14/08. (Also see: Pregnancy and Scleroderma)

Quantification of hardness, elasticity and viscosity of the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis(SSc) using a novel sensing device (Vesmeter): a proposal for a new outcome measurement procedure. The sensing device (Vesmeter) proved to be able to assess skin abnormalities of SSc with high reliability. Y. Kuwahara. Rheumatology Access Online. April 25, 2008. (Also see: Skin Involvement)

Blunted increase of digital skin vasomotion following acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside iontophoresis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. This study showed a selective abnormality of the endothelial, sympathetic and myogenic-dependent finger skin vasomotion in SSc patients, consistent with a parallel endothelial, sympathetic and myogenic macrovascular dysfunction. M. Rossi. Rheumatology. April 22, 2008. (Vasomotion is cyclic variation in vascular diameter) (Also see: Raynaud's and Digital Ulcers)

Prevalence of sicca symptoms in a South Australian cohort with systemic sclerosis(SSc).Out of 193 SSc patients, sicca symptoms (primarily dry eye) were present in 59% of patients with limited SSc, 49% of patients with diffuse SSc and 40% of patients with the overlap syndrome.This study confirmed that sicca symptoms are found in a high proportion of patients with SSc. Swaminathan S. (PubMed) Intern Med J. 2008 Apr 14. (Also see: Eye Involvement)

Study Sheds Light On Deadly Lung Disease. Researchers generated a transgenic mouse strain, which develops ubiquitous skin and sporadic lung scar tissue, characteristics similar to humans with SSc and pulmonary fibrosis. Medical News Today. 04/15/08. (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis)

Exercise Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis. A 'positive' exercise test was defined as an increase of at least 20mmHg in the RVSP with exercise. A right heart catheterization with exercise was performed in those with a 'positive' exercise test. Exercise induced pulmonary hypertension is a common finding in patients at high risk for PAH. Steen V. (PubMed) Chest. 2008 Apr 10. (Also see: PAH)