Publications by authors named "R Becvar"
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to see if adding oral glucocorticoids to immunosuppressive therapy improves skin conditions and safety in patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc).
- It compared two groups: one receiving glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppression, and the other receiving only immunosuppression, assessing changes in the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) over about a year.
- Results showed no significant difference in skin score improvement between the groups, indicating that low-dose glucocorticoids didn't provide added benefits for skin fibrosis nor raised the risk of scleroderma renal crisis.
Background: The anti-Nucleolar Organizer Region 90 antibodies (NOR90) are rare antinuclear antibodies (ANA) reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Especially due to low prevalence, the clinical relevance of NOR90 in SSc remains uncertain.
Objectives: To analyze the clinical associations of NOR90 in patients with SSc in a multicentric cohort.
Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the sexual function (SF) and pelvic floor function of men with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with age-matched healthy controls (HC) and to identify the implications of clinical features on SF.
Material And Method: Twenty SSc males and 20 HC aged 18-70 years completed eleven questionnaires assessing SF [International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ)]; sexual quality of life: Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Male (SQoL-M); pelvic floor function: Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-Short Form 7 (PFIQ-7), fatigue, depression, physical fitness, functional disability, and quality of life. Clinical data were collected.
Objective: To examine disease and target engagement biomarkers in the RISE-SSc trial of riociguat in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and their potential to predict the response to treatment.
Methods: Patients were randomized to riociguat (n = 60) or placebo (n = 61) for 52 weeks. Skin biopsies and plasma/serum samples were obtained at baseline and week 14.
Article Synopsis
- - The RISE-SSc trial studied the safety and effectiveness of riociguat for treating early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, comparing it to a placebo and then evaluating long-term effects for an additional year.
- - Out of 121 patients in the main study, 87 (72%) enrolled in the long-term extension, with a majority being women and White, which led to the observation that 94% experienced mild to moderate adverse events, but no new serious complications emerged.
- - The study concluded that riociguat remained safe over the long term, although it lacked a comparator group in its open-label phase, which is a noted limitation.