| Scleroderma Medical News by Date |
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| August 2009 |
| Severe Systemic Sclerosis - Combination Therapy Study (05-070T). A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II/III Multicenter Study of High-Dose Immunosuppressive Therapy Using Total Body Irradiation, Cyclophosphamide, ATGAM, and Autologous Transplantation with Auto-CD34+HPC versus Intravenous Pulse Cyclophosphamide for the Treatment of Severe Systemic Sclerosis. Presently Recruiting. Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. (Also see: Clinical Trials) |
| Geographical variation of disease manifestations in systemic sclerosis: a report from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) group database. This analysis suggests that eastern centres care for more severe SSc manifestations in Europe. Large differences in patient referral account for a large local variability of SSc presentations and preclude the identification of genetic or environmental factors. Walker UA. (PubMed) Ann Rheum Dis. 2009 Jun;68(6):856-62. (Also see: Geographical Regions) |
| Improvement of Severe Systemic Sclerosis-associated Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia (GAVE) Following Immunosuppressive Treatment with Intravenous Cyclophosphamide. A description of 3 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with severe, transfusion-dependent GAVE refractory to laser ablation who showed remarkable clinical and endoscopic improvement following intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment. Steffan W. Schulz. (PubMed) J Rheumatol. 2009 Aug;36(8):1653-6. (Also see: GAVE) |
| Unilateral Eosinophilic Fasciitis (EF): An Under-Recognized Subtype? It is possible that unilateral EF is under-recognized and can easily be misdiagnosed as another scleroderma variant if a full thickness biopsy is not reviewed by a dermatopathologist. R.S. Daniel, MD. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. Volume 15, Issue 5, pp 247-249. August 2009. (Also see: Scleroderma and EF) |
| Iron homoeostasis in rheumatic disease. Altered iron homoeostasis may represent a purposeful response to inflammation that could have theoretical anti-inflammatory benefits. Physicians should avoid routine iron supplementation in those without depleted iron stores. Joshua F. Baker. Rheumatology. July 23, 2009 (Also see: Anemia and Vitamins) |
| Safety Evaluation of Dasatinib in Subjects With Scleroderma Pulmonary Fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to see if dasatinib, with its known side effects, is safe to use in patients with scleroderma pulmonary fibrosis. This study is currently recruiting participants. Clinicaltrials.gov. August 2009. (Also see: Clinical Trials and Pulmonary Fibrosis) |
| Ventricular mass index (VMI) correlates with pulmonary artery pressure and predicts survival in suspected systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The VMI, as demonstrated by magnetic resonant imaging (MRI), correlates well with mean pulmonary artery pressure in patients with SSc and may have a role in non-invasively excluding clinically significant PAH in breathless SSc patients in whom echocardiographic screening has failed. Dan Hagger. Rheumatology. July 14, 2009. (Also see: Cardiac MRI and PAH) |
| Coronary atherosclerosis using computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with systemic sclerosis. Coronary atherosclerosis is not uncommon in asymptomatic SSc patients computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a convenient and non-invasive method for studying coronary atherosclerosis. MY Mok (Informaworld) Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology 07 July 2009. (Also see: Atherosclerosis) |
| Long-term beneficial effects of statins on vascular manifestations in patients with systemic sclerosis. This pilot study suggests that statins may be beneficial in treating vascular manifestations of SSc, such as Raynaud’s, through their pleiotropic effects. However, this treatment did not correct the defect in endothelial progenitor cells recruitment. Masataka Kuwana. (SpringerLink) Modern Rheumatology July 10, 2009. (Also see: Statins, Vascular Involvement, and Raynaud's) |
| The European League Against Rheumatism 2009 |
| EULAR 2009 took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, June 13 - 10. The aim was to provide a forum of the highest standard for scientific (both clinical and basic), educational and social exchange between professionals involved in rheumatology and liaising with patient organisations to achieve progress in the clinical care of patients with rheumatic diseases. |
| Welcome to The European League Against Rheumatism Abstracts2View™ site. View the abstracts of the presentations of EULAR 2009 and previous years. |
| Associated Autoimmune Diseases (AID) in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Define a Subset of Patients with Milder Disease: Results from Two Large Cohorts of European Caucasian Patients. Our study shows that about a quarter of this large series of European Caucasian patients affected by SSc has developed one or more AID known to occur with connective tissue diseases. J. Avouac. (FRI0324) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome) |
| Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF or Cellcept) in Systemic Sclerosis Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD). There was a significant increase in forced vital capacity (FVC) and a non-significant increase in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) at 12 months in patients on MMF. A. Koutroumpas. (FRI0331) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis and Cellcept) |
| Licocaine for the Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) - A Randomised Clinical Trial. Intravenous lidocaine does not appear to improve the total skin thickening, the main capillaroscopy abnormalities and the quality of life in scleroderma patients. R. Riera. (SAT0227) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Scleroderma Treatments) |
| Raynaud's Syndrome Evolution in Systemic Scleroderma (SSc) Patients on Different Treatment Patterns. Three different treatment patterns showed positive results on Raynaud's syndrome evolution; also improving SSc patients' quality of life. The best results, however, were obtained in patients receiving a combination of pentoxiphylline and Eprosartan. One explanation for that, could be in the additional influence of eprosartan on peripheral vessel resistance. S. Agachi. (SAT0241) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Raynaud's) |
| High Frequency Ultrasound (US) in Juvenile Localised Scleroderma (JLS). US seems to be a sensitive tool to evaluate skin modifications in JLS and correlate with clinical evaluation. Further studies are needed to better correlate clinical stage of lesions and morphological US images. F. Falcini. (THU0429) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Juvenile Scleroderma) |
| Clinical Prediction of 5-Year Survival in Early Scleroderma: Validation of a Simple Prognostic Model in a Multi-Centre Study. A simple prognostic model using 3 disease factors to predict 5 year survival at diagnosis in SSc showed reasonable discriminatory performance upon validation in a European multi-centre study. Update of the formula may increase discrimination and precision of the predictions. J. Fransen. (FRI0319) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Prognosis and Mortality) |
| Profile of Pre-Scleroderma Evolution. All those patients who evolved to SSc presented the following at baseline: Raynaud's, positive anti-Scl-70 or anticentromere, sclerodactyly or visceral (esophageal) involvement and slow capillaroscopic pattern of scleroderma. E. Delgado. (THU0323) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Determining the Type of Scleroderma) |
| Causes and Risk Factors for Death in Systemic Sclerosis - A Study from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) Database. Pulmonary fibrosis and isolated PAH are pre-eminent causes of death in SSc. In addition, causes of death such as septicaemia and pneumonia could be directly related to SSc-associate comorbidity in many cases. Other independent predictors of death included DLCO, pulmonary hypertension, modified Rodnan skin score, age at Raynaud's onset, dyspnoea and proteinuria. A.J. Tyndall. (OP-0078) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Prognosis and Mortality) |
| Gender Differences in Early Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Patients: A Report from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Reserach Group (EUSTAR) Database. Features of diffuse disease, especially muscular, cardiac and lung involvement are present early in SSc male patients, even in those with limited skin disease. Together with a higher proportion of males than previously described in this large group of early SSc patients, these data indicate that males developing SSc may manifest more severe early visceral involvement and therefore should be carefully studied and promptly treated. P.E. Carreira. (OP-0081) EULAR 2009. (Also see: Gender Differences) |
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