| Scleroderma Medical News by Date |
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| February 2007 |
| Coexistence of systemic sclerosis with other autoimmune diseases. Our study shows that approximately one third of patients affected by systemic sclerosis developed one or more additional autoimmune diseases. Therefore patients with systemic sclerosis should be carefully evaluated both at onset and during the follow-up for the possible coexistence of other autoimmune disorders. PubMed. Rheumatol Int. 2006 Sep 19. (Also see: Overlap Syndrome and MCTD ) |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The report highlights the interesting association between MS and SSc that may be due to an overlapping pathogenetic mechanism for both processes. PubMed. Rheumatol Int. 2006 Dec 14. (Also see: Multiple Sclerosis and Overlap Syndrome ) |
| Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD): a case with scleroderma renal crisis following abortion. Immune response to U1-ribonucleoprotein is the defining serological feature of MCTD. We report a case of MCTD with pulmonary involvement that developed scleroderma renal crisis after an abortion. PubMed. Clin Rheumatol. 2006 Nov 21. (Also see: MCTD, Pulmonary Involvement, and Renal Involvement ) |
| Infections in systemic connective tissue diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis. Patients who have these diseases, especially when receiving high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy, need to be monitored closely for these infections. PubMed. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2006 Dec;20(4):849-75. (Also see: Autoimmune Diseases and Scleroderma Treatments ) |
| Bosentan Down-Regulates Endothelial Activation in Systemic Sclerosis Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hyperthension. This study confirms that endothelial activation occurrs in SSc and suggests that changes of T-cell/endothelium interplay take place in in PAH-SSc. Bosentan, beside improving PHA-SSc, seems to be capable of restoring endothelium functions in these patients. Florenzo Iannone. 1857/529 ACR 2006. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension and Bosentan ) |
| Long-term Effects of Bosentan in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Related to Connective Tissue Disease (PAH-CTD): The TRUST Study Results. Bosentan therapy for 48 weeks led to improvement or stabilization of PAH symptoms and QoL in a majority of patients with PAH-CTD. Survival rate was 92%. Christopher P. Denton. 1862/534 ACR 2006. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension and Bosentan ) |
| Predictors of Intrinsic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH) in Patients with Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (lcSSc). LcSSc patients with onset of Raynaud phenomenon at an older age, low DLCO (carbon monoxide diffusing capacity) and/or history of scleroderma renal crisis should be regarded as having an increased risk of developing IPAH and should be monitored closely for this complication. Tatiana Rodriguez-Reyna. 1861/533 ACR 2006. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension, and Limited Scleroderma ) |
| Pulmonary arterial hypertension and systemic sclerosis. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a serious complication of systemic sclerosis and a leading cause of death in patients with it. Recent publications suggest that a prevalence of 10-15% is likely. PubMed. Presse Med. 2006 Dec;35(12 Pt 2):1929-37. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension ) |
| A case of systemic scleroderma complicating pulmonary hypertension. This case was treated from an early stage with steroid pulse therapy and CY pulse therapy, accompanied with oral administration of a PGI2 preparation for the pulmonary hypertension. The dermal symptoms improved, and it was possible to maintain a state of remission. PubMed. Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi. 2006 Dec;29(6):378-83. (Also see: Juvenile Scleroderma and Pulmonary Hypertension ) |
| Pulmonary arterial hypertension in collagen disease: findings of the German Network for Systemic Scleroderma (DNSS). The DNSS recommends annual echocardiography for patients with scleroderma and right-heart catheterization if the systolic pulmonary arterial pressure is higher than 35 mmHg. Aggressive immunosuppressive treatment - in the first instance with cyclophosphamide - should be given only if there is also progressive fibrosis. PubMed. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2006 Dec;131 Suppl 9:S325-7. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension ) |
| Determinants of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in Scleroderma. The present analysis identified pulmonary fibrosis and Raynaud's phenomenon preceding SSc skin manifestations by at least 3 years as risk factors for PAH in our scleroderma cohort. PubMed. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2007 Jan 2. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension ) |
| Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynaud's phenomenon is the acrosyndrome most commonly encountered by rheumatologists. The diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon rests on clinical grounds. Nailfold capillaroscopy and immunological tests are useful chiefly for determining the cause. Acrocyanosis, which is extremely common, and erythromelalgia are the other main vascular acrosyndromes. PubMed. Joint Bone Spine. 2006 Dec 4. (Also see: Raynaud's Diagnosis ) |
| A cold-response index for the assessment of Raynaud's phenomenon. The results provide a solid basis for using the cold-response assay as an endpoint in addition to clinical activity scores in RP treatment trials. PubMed. J Dermatol Sci. 2006 Dec 12. (Also see: Raynaud's Diagnosis ) |
| Ischemic ulcers in systemic connective tissue disorders. The treatment consists of analgesics, prevention of cooling and antibiotics if the ulcers are infected. Other possible treatments are vasodilators, prostacyclin analogues, endothelin receptor antagonists, sildenafil and chemical or surgical sympathectomy. PubMed. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2006 Nov 30;126(23):3089-92. (Also see: Digital Ulcers ) |
| Nailfold Capillaroscopic Findings in Systemic Sclerosis Patients. Nail fold capillaroscopy performed in a routine clinical setting, without any special measurement, is an inexpensive and useful technique in patients with clinical suspicion of SSc diagnosis, and may identify patients with severe visceral complications. Beatriz E. Joven. 1874/546 ACR 2006. (Also see: Raynaud's Diagnosis and Common Medical Tests ) |
| Nailfold Capillaroscopic Findings in Systemic Sclerosis and Raynaud Phenomenon in a Rheumatology Clinical Setting. Nailfold capillaroscopy performed in a routine clinical setting, without any special measurement, is a simple and useful technique for patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and may help to identify those patients with SSc diagnosis. Atusa Movasat. 1148/407 ACR 2006. (Also see: Raynaud's Diagnosis and Common Medical Tests ) |
| Assessment of Hand Vascular Involvement by Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Systemic Sclerosis. All the patients had at least one abnormality on MRA; lesions are generally diffuse and involve both arterial and venous systems. No difference was established among the 2 cutaneous sub-types but lesions seem to increase with disease duration; however, some lesions may be found as early as the initial months after diagnosis. Yannick Allanore. 1882/554 ACR 2006. (Also see: Raynaud's Diagnosis and Common Medical Tests ) |
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