Scleroderma Medical News by Date |
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| March 2009 |
| Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTX-A): A Treatment Option for Digital Ischemia in Patients With Raynaud's Phenomenon. BTX-A was found to be a safe and useful treatment option for vasospastic digital ischemia. (Unbound Medline) A. Fregene. J Hand Surg. March 2009. (Also see: Raynaud’s Treatments and Digital Ulcers) |
| A longitudinal follow-up of hand involvement and activities of daily living (ADL) in early systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this study hand mobility and ADL capacity were maintained during the first years of SSc. G. Sandqvist. (informa) Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. 03/18/09. (Also see: Skeletal Involvement) |
| Limitations to the 6-Minute Walk Test in Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension in Scleroderma. Pain may cause failure to reach a dyspnea limitation during 6MWT, especially in SSc patients without both ILD and PH. 6 MWT interpretation should include consideration of vascular, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal exercise limitations. M.C. Garin. Journal of Rheumatology February 1, 2009 vol. 36 no. 2 330-336 . (Also see: Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension) |
| Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Risk 60-Fold Higher in Raynaud's with SSc Antibodies, Nailfold Capillary Microscopy Changes. Positive antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), positive SSc autoantibodies, and characteristic nailfold capillary microscopy patterns can help identify patients with Raynaud's phenomenon who will progress to definite SSc. J. Kelly. Musculoskeletal Report. 12/08/09. (Also see: Raynaud’s and Antibodies) |
| Reports of abnormal cervical cancer screening tests in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We noted a high prevalence of abnormal Pap tests self-reported in our sample. Increased risk was seen among those with diffuse SSc. Thus, it seems prudent to ensure that adequate attention is paid to cervical cancer screening for women with SSc. S. Bernatsky. Rheumatology. 12/15/2008. (Also see: Cancer and Scleroderma) |
| Accuracy of Doppler Echocardiography in the Hemodynamic Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is recommended for screening for the presence of pulmonary hypertension. However, some recent studies have suggested that Doppler echocardiographicpulmonary artery pressure estimates may frequently be inaccurate. M. R. Fisher. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. January 22, 2009 (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension) |
| Scleroderma (SSc) prevalence: Demographic variations in a population-based sample. We estimated SSc prevalence in 2003 at 74.4 cases per 100,000 women and 13.3 cases per 100,000 men. Prevalence was higher for older individuals, particularly in urban women (161.2 cases per 100,000). Prevalence was lowest in young men (in rural areas, as low as 2.8 cases per 100,000). S. Bernatsky. Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Mar 15. (Also see: About Scleroderma) |
| Scleroderma: Cyclophosphamide or Transplantation (SCOT) Substudy 01. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the plasma concentration and exposure time required for cyclosphosphamide to produce optimal immunosuppressive activity with minimal toxicity in subjects with severe systemic sclerosis. This study is currently enrolling participants by invitation only. ClinicalTrials.gov. 02/19/09. (Also see: Clinical Trials) |
| High frequency of corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy in patients with systemic sclerosis despite limited evidence for efficacy. Despite limited evidence for the effectiveness of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents in systemic sclerosis, these potentially harmful drugs are frequently prescribed to patients with all forms of systemic sclerosis. Therefore, this study indicates the need to develop and communicate adequate treatment recommendations. N. Hunzelmann Arthritis Research & Therapy, 11:R30. 4 March 2009. (Also see: Immunosuppressants and Steroids) |
| Hemolytic uremic syndrome with ischemic glomerulonephropathy and obliterative vasculopathy in a systemic sclerosis (SSc) patient treated with cyclosporine-A (CSA). Hemolytic uremic syndrome is not a commonly reported complication in post-transplantation patients treated with CSA, and is extremely rare in SSc patients treated with this drug. Wei-Sheng Chen. Rheumatology International. 21 January 2009. (Also see: Cyclosporine) |
| Lack of agreement between rheumatologists in defining digital ulceration in systemic sclerosis. Thirty-five images of finger lesions, incorporating a wide range of abnormalities at different sites, were duplicated, yielding a data set of 70 images. The poor interrater reliability suggests that if digital ulceration is to be used as an end point in multicenter clinical trials of SSc, then strict definitions must be developed. Herrick AL. (PubMed) Arthritis Rheum. 2009 Feb 26;60(3):878-882. (Also see: Digital Ulcers) |
| New Study Using Combination of Bioengineered Skin and Stem Cells Shows Promise in Treatment of Non-Healing Wounds. A new approach resulted in dramatic healing of these extremely difficult-to-heal wounds, with new skin growth that blended in nicely with the surrounding skin. (NewsWire) American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). 03/05/09. (Also see: Digital Ulcers) |
| The many faces of scleroderma sine scleroderma: a literature review focusing on cardiopulmonary complications. Scleroderma sine scleroderma is an occult form of systemic sclerosis that may cause diagnostic difficulties due to the absence of skin involvement. Delays in the diagnosis of ssSSc means lost opportunites to address and treat the often lethal involvement of internal organs such as the lungs and heart. Overall the clinical presentation is subtle and heightened clinical awareness is required to facilitate prompt recognition and treatment. Toya SP. (PubMed) Rheumatol Int. 2009 Feb 27 (Also see: Diffuse Scleroderma Without Skin Involvement) |
| Impact of digital ulcers on disability and health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis (SSc). SSc patients with Digital Ulcers have reduced wrist and hand mobility, increased global and hand disabilities and decreased mental component of Health Related Quality of Life. Luc Mouthon. Ann Rheum Dis. 16 February 2009. (Also see: Digital Ulcers) |
| Establishment and partial validation of a patient skin self-assessment questionnaire in systemic sclerosis. Because of the low mean Rodnan Skin Score of patients in this investigation, the patient self-assessment validation procedure should be repeated with cases exhibiting more extensive skin involvement. Patient-reported and examiner-measured tethering may not be used as independent instruments of skin involvement. The skin thinness domain may contain valuable independent information,therefore it also merits further investigation. Zoltán Nagy Rheumatology 2009 48(3):309-314. January 30, 2009. (Also see: Skin Involvement) |
| Early, Simple and Reliable Detection of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) (DETECT). A two-stage prospective observational cohort study in scleroderma patients to evaluate screening tests and the incidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension. This study is currently recruiting participants. Verified by Actelion, October 2008. ClinicalTrials.gov. (Also see: Pulmonary Hypertension and Clinical Trials) |
