Scleroderma Medical News by Date

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February 2009

Diagnostic value of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies in a large monocentric cohort. Diagnosis and risk assessment of scleroderma patients can be supported by the detection of anti-topo I antibodies. Signal intensities as obtained by LIA or ELISA can be used as a surrogate marker for fibrosis, active disease and worse prognosis. K. Hanke. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:R28. (Also see: Autoantibodies in Scleroderma)

Antibodies against PM/Scl-75 and PM/Scl-100 are independent markers for different subsets of systemic sclerosis patients. Anti-PM/Scl antibodies are common in distinct SSc subsets and are associated with several clinical symptoms. They are mainly directed to the PM/Scl-75 antigen. Consequently, the detection of anti-PM/Scl antibodies by tests based only on PM/Scl-100 as antigen source may miss a relevant number of SSc patients positive for these antibodies. K. Hanke. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009, 11:R22. (Also see: Autoantibodies in Scleroderma)

Mortality high in patients with systemic scleroderma and pulmonary hypertension. The prognosis for patients with systemic sclerosis complicated by pulmonary hypertension is "grim," particularly among African Americans and those with interstitial lung disease. Reuters. Arthritis Rheum 2009;60:569-577. (Also see: Pulmonary Involvement)

Cyclophosphamide in systemic sclerosis: still in search of a 'real life' scenario. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), there is no proven treatment to prevent disease progression. In a recent meta-analysis of three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and six open prospective studies on cyclophosphamide (CYC), no significant changes in lung function were observed. Further RCTs on early SSc are needed to assess the real efficacy of CYC in inducing remission and increasing survival. I. Miniati. Arthritis Research & Therapy 23 January 2009 (Also see: Cytoxan and Pulmonary Fibrosis)

Inflammatory morphea in the context of Raynaud phenomenon. Even in the absence of initial symptoms to support systemic disease, patients presenting with morphea in the setting of Raynaud phenomenon or anti-centromere antibodies deserve close surveillance for the possibility of CREST syndrome and systemic sclerosis. Naheed Abbasi MD MPH. Dermatology Online Journal. October 2008. (Also see: Raynaud's and Morphea)

Borrelia-associated early-onset morphea: A particular type of scleroderma in childhood and adolescence with high titer antinuclear antibodies? Results of a cohort analysis and presentation of three cases. We observed a statistically highly significant association between morphea, serologic evidence of Borrelia infection, and high-titer antinuclear antibodies when disease onset was in childhood or adolescence. J. C. Prinz. Journal of the American Academcy of Dermatology. Volume 60, Issue 2, Pages 248-255 (February 2009). (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma and Morphea)

Vegetable and fruit intakes and risk of Barrett's esophagus in men and women. The results of this study support previous findings that increased intakes of vegetables and of vegetables and fruit are associated with a lower risk of BE in men and women. Prospective data that examine relations between diet and Barrett’s esophagus are needed. O. M. Thompson, Am J Clin Nutr. January 14, 2009, (Also see : Barrett’s Esophagus)

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Barrett's Esophagus (BE): Short-Term Results. Short-term results show that RFA is safe for BE and achieves 100% replacement of intestinal metaplasia. RFA combined with fundoplication may be offered to patients with BE and medically refractory reflux symptoms. Long-term endoscopic surveillance is needed to determine if the risk of cancer is reduced with this bimodality therapy., S. M. Eldaif, MD. Ann Thorac Surg 2009;87:405-411. (Also see: Barrett’s Esophagus)

New Treatment for Tough Disease. Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine found that rosiglitazone, a treatment commonly used in type-2 diabetes, may reduce the severity of scleroderma. (Huliq) The American Journal of Pathology. February 2009. (Also see: Scleroderma Treatments)

A descriptive and prognostic study of systemic sclerosis-associated myopathies. Muscle histopathology is critical in the therapeutic management of SSc-associated myopathy, because patients without muscle inflammation are unlikely to get benefit from corticosteroid therapy. B Ranque. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. 3 December 2008. (Also see: Skeletal Involvement)

Effect of Bosentan on Plasma Markers of Endothelial Cell Activity in Patients with Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension (PAH) Related to Connective Tissue Diseases. Treatment with bosentan for 3 months induced a beneficial effect by restoring endothelial function through a decrease in the markers of endothelial cell activity, leading to stabilization or improvement of severe PAH. G. Cella. J Rheumatol. January 22, 2009 (See Also: Bosentan)