A comparative study of modulatory interaction between cytokines and apoptotic proteins among Scleroderma patients with and without pulmonary involvement.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are the most eminent forms of pulmonary involvement in Scleroderma. In this study we investigate the interaction between cytokines and apoptotic proteins in treatment naive Scleroderma (SSc) patients with and without pulmonary involvement.

Methods: Newly diagnosed treatment naïve Scleroderma (SSc) patients (n = 100) and healthy controls (n = 100) were enrolled.