EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis: 2023 update.

Objectives: To update the 2017 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), incorporating new evidence and therapies.

Methods: An international task force was convened in line with EULAR standard operating procedures. A nominal group technique exercise was performed in two rounds to define questions underpinning a subsequent systematic literature review.

Impact of Scleroderma-Associated Autoantibodies on Clinical Outcome Assessments: Post Hoc Analysis From a Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 3 Trial of Tocilizumab in Scleroderma.

Objective: Scleroderma-associated autoantibodies (SSc-Abs) are specific in participants (pts) with systemic sclerosis and are associated with organ involvement. Our objective was to assess the influence of baseline SSc-Abs on the trajectories of the clinical outcome assessments (COAs) in a phase III randomized controlled trial.

Methods: We used data on both the groups who received placebo (Pbo) and tocilizumab from the focuSSced trial.

Systemic sclerosis-associated severe gastric antral vascular ectasia treated with tocilizumab:A case report and review of the literature.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia is a frequent and potentially severe complication of systemic sclerosis. Management is presently limited to supportive care, acid suppression and endoscopic treatment. Many cases of gastric antral vascular ectasia tend to be refractory or partially responsive to standard treatment and require multiple endoscopic procedures to control the recurrent bleeding.

Critical role for Transglutaminase 2 in scleroderma skin fibrosis and in the development of dermal sclerosis in a mouse model of scleroderma.

Objective: Scleroderma is a life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, tissue remodelling, and fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression and function of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) in scleroderma skin and experimentally-induced dermal fibrosis to determine its potential role and therapeutic implications.

Methods: We performed immunohistochemistry on skin sections to assess TGM2 expression and localisation, and protein biochemistry of both SSc-derived and healthy control dermal fibroblasts to assess TGM2 expression, function and ECM deposition in the presence of a TGM2 and TGFβ neutralizing antibodies and a small molecule inhibitor of the TGFβRI kinase.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with a more severe interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis in the EUSTAR cohort.

Objectives: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and could predict progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD). We aimed to analyse (1) the prevalence of GERD among SSc-ILD patients, (2) its association with disease characteristics and (3) predictive factors for ILD progression in SSc-ILD patients with GERD.

Methods: SSc patients from the EUSTAR database with ILD were included.