Scleroderma

Case Study and Clinical Highlight: Diagnosis of Pulmonary Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis

By

Corinna Sison, MD Medical Editor

Engage in this case study to test your diagnostic ability to differentiate pulmonary hypertension in the setting of systemic sclerosis.

Progressive Skin Fibrosis in SSc Associated With Lung Function Decline

In patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, developing progressive skin fibrosis within 1 year is associated with a decline in lung function and worse survival.

Rituximab Safe, Effective in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Rituximab treatment improved skin fibrosis in a cohort of patients with SSc, but no significant change was observed in lung fibrosis.

SSc-PAH Survival Improves With Combination Sequential Therapy

Patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension who were given combination sequential therapy had improved survival rates compared with patients receiving upfront combination or monotherapy.

Pulmonary Hypertension Often Occurs Early After SSc-ILD Diagnosis

Investigators examined the prevalence, characteristics, treatment, and outcomes for patients with pulmonary hypertension in a systemic-sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease cohort.

Reduced Right Ventricular Output Reserve Observed in SSc With Elevated PAP

Investigators examined right ventricular function and pulmonary arterial compliance at rest and during exercise in patients with systemic sclerosis with normal or mildly elevated mean pulmonary artery pressures, or with manifest pulmonary hypertension.

Assessing Retinal Microvascular Perfusion in Systemic Sclerosis

Researchers used optical coherence tomography angiography to measure retinal microvascular blood flow in patients with systemic sclerosis with no clinical signs of retinal involvement.

Biomarkers Predictive of Systemic Sclerosis-Interstitial Lung Disease Identified

Lung‐epithelial‐derived surfactant protein has been identified as a biomarker of systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease.

Novel Blood Test May Aid Scleroderma Diagnosis and Risk Stratification

Mark Pimentel, MD, discusses the release of a new blood test that may aid in the diagnosis of scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.

Systemic Sclerosis-Associated PAH Genomic Signature Differs From ILD

Systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary hypertension and systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease exhibit similar but distinct gene expression profiles.

Ulnar Artery Occlusion: A Vasculopathy Severity Marker in SSc

Ulnar artery occlusion may function as a relevant marker of vasculopathy severity in systematic sclerosis.