From the Expert: New Advances in Treatment of Systemic Scleroderma

Richard Quinn is a freelance writer in New Jersey.

References

Clements PJ, Tashkin D, Roth M, et al. The scleroderma lung study II (SLS II) shows that both oral cyclophosphamide (CYC) and mycophenolate mofitil (MMF) are efficacious in treating progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015 Oct; 67(suppl 10).
Tashkin DP, Elashoff R, Clements PJ, et al. Effects of 1-year treatment with cyclophosphamide on outcomes at 2 years in scleroderma lung disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Nov 15;176(10):1026–1034. Epub 2007 Aug 23.
Hoyles RK, Ellis RW, Wellsbury J, et al. A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral azathioprine for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Dec;54(12):3962–3970.

No one-size-fits-all approach exists for the care and treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and SSc with pulmonary involvement. Here, experts discuss some best clinical practices for these patients.

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), poly-/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) appear to carry the greatest risk for developing connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD)

Historically, the early approach for treating interstitial lung disease (ILD) due to systemic sclerosis (SSc) involved immunosuppressant therapy, primarily with cytotoxic agents.1 Glucocorticoids in combination with another immunosuppressant agent, such as oral azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, were often used to treat patients with severe, progressive SSc-ILD.2 However, direct evidence to support this therapeutic approach was lacking…

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