Systemic Sclerosis

Researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of abatacept in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).

Researchers sought to determine the benefits of using a prognostic equation and risk score calculator to predict survival in systemic sclerosis-associated PAH.

Red cell distribution width may help detect early incident PH in patients who are at high risk for PH development.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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