1. Mayes, Md, Lacey, JV, Jr., Beebe-Dimmer, J, Gillespie, BW, Cooper, B, Laing, TJ, Schottenfeld, D., “Prevalence, incidence, survival, and disease characteristics of systemic sclerosis in a large US population,” Arthritis Rheum, August 2003; 48(8): pp. 2246-55.
A study conducted in Detroit from 1989-1991 of 706 verified systemic sclerosis cases found sex and race prevalance significantly higher for women than men. Black patients were diagnosed at a considerably lower age than whites. Average median survival was about 11 years. Negative survival factors include being male and being older at diagnosis. Blacks were found to have diffuse disease at almost twice that of whites.
2. Valentini, G., et al., “European Scleroderma Study Group to define disease activity criteria for systemic sclerosis. III Assessment of the construct validity of the preliminary activity criteria.” Ann Rheum Dis, Sept. 2003; 62(9): pp. 901-3.
This study was designed to improve the concept of disease activity, which was still not well-defined. It shows activity of this disease for potential clinical investigational studies.
3. Poncelet, AN, Connolly, MK, “Peripheral neuropahty in scleroderma,” Muscle Nerve, Sept. 2003; 28(3): pp.330-5.
Complete neurological examination of 14 scleroderma patients revealed reduced vibration or pinprick sensation in both upper and lower extremities, atrophy and weakness, and decreased deep tendon reflexes. These findings suggest that peripheral neuropathy occurs in scleroderma patients at a higher rate than previously thought.
4. Ahmed, SS, Tan, FK, “Identification of novel targets in scleroderma: update on population studies, cDNA arrays, SNP analysis and mutations,” Curr Opin Rheumatol, Nov. 2003; 15(6): pp. 766-71.
This study was conducted with the use of genomics, revealing novel targets and genetic associations that may contribute to the cause, onset and pathologic changes that make up systemic sclerosis. This presents potential drug candidates and gene therapy which may benefit SS patients.
5. Ronger, S., Viallard, AM, et al., “Oral calcitriol: a new therapeutic agent in cutaneous lichen sclerosis,” J. Drugs Dermatol, Jan. 2003; 2(1): pp. 23-8.
Oral calcitriol (active Vitamin D) has been shown to have a beneficial effect in scleroderma, which, after 6 months of treatment, improved the lesions and skin extensibility. This improvement remained after treatment was discontinued for the one year follow-up period.
6. Morelli, S., Sgreccia, A, Bernardo, ML, Gurgo Di Castelmenardo, A, Petrilli, AC, De Leva, R, Nuccio, F, Calvieri, S, “Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). A case of recovery of cardiomyopathy after vitamin E treatment,” Minerva Cardioangiol. 2001 Apr;49(2):127-30.
After 6 months of daily intake of 600 mg of Vitamin E, all symptoms of heart failure were resolved and the patients echocardiogram showed normal left ventricle size and normal wall function.
