OBJECTIVE: The outcome of patients with COVID-19 improved over the pandemic, including patients with systemic rheumatic diseases. However, data on patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are lacking. This study aimed to assess the outcome of patients with both SSc and COVID-19 over several waves. METHODS: Patients with both SSc and COVID-19 who were registered in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR) were collected between April 2020 and April 2021. Patients were assigned to waves 1, 2, or 3 depending on the date of their COVID-19 diagnosis. Primary endpoints were death, intensive care unit stay, or ventilatory support (severe outcome). Subgroup analyses of patients who were hospitalized or died were conducted. General and SSc-specific characteristics and treatment were compared over the waves. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were applied. RESULTS: A total of 333 patients were included; 57 patients (17%) had a severe outcome, and 30 patients (9%) died. Compared to wave 1, significantly fewer patients with SSc suffered from severe COVID-19 in waves 2 and 3 (28.2% vs 9.8% and 12.7%; P < 0.001), fewer patients required hospitalization (46.7% vs 19.6% and 25.5%; P < 0.001) or ventilatory support (24.0% vs 8.7% and 10.9%; P = 0.001), and fewer patients died (15.7% vs 5.0% and 7.5%; P = 0.011). Patients were significantly younger, more often men, had less frequent arterial hypertension, and less SSc cardiac involvement over waves 1 to 3. Patients received significantly less medium to high doses of corticosteroids as they did SSc treatment. CONCLUSION: The outcome of patients with both SSc and COVID-19 improved significantly over time because of intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
OBJECTIVE: Juvenile systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an orphan disease, associated with high morbidity and mortality. New treatment strategies are much needed, but clearly defining appropriate outcomes is necessary if successful therapies are to be developed. Our objective here was to propose such outcomes. METHODS: This proposal is the result of 4 face-to-face consensus meetings with a 27-member multidisciplinary team of pediatric rheumatologists, adult rheumatologists, dermatologists, pediatric cardiologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, a statistician, and patients. Throughout the process, we reviewed the existing adult data in this field, the more limited pediatric literature for juvenile SSc outcomes, and data from 2 juvenile SSc patient cohorts to assist in making informed, data-driven decisions. The use of items for each domain as an outcome measure in an open label 12-month clinical trial of juvenile SSc was voted and agreed upon using a nominal group technique. RESULTS: After voting, the domains agreed on were global disease activity, skin, Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcers, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and gastrointestinal involvement, and quality of life. Fourteen outcome measures had 100% agreement, 1 item had 91% agreement, and 1 item had 86% agreement. The domains of biomarkers and growth/development were moved to the research agenda. CONCLUSION: We reached consensus on multiple domains and items that should be assessed in an open label, 12-month clinical juvenile SSc trial as well as a research agenda for future development.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- konsensus MeSH
- kožní vředy MeSH
- kvalita života MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lokalizovaná sklerodermie MeSH
- Raynaudova nemoc * farmakoterapie MeSH
- systémová sklerodermie * diagnóza farmakoterapie komplikace MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The structural and functional changes of the hands and face in systemic sclerosis (SSc) can be severely disabling. We aimed to assess the effect of a 24-week supervised physiotherapy and occupational therapy program (POTp) combined with home exercise on the function of hands/mouth of SSc patients, compared to a daily home exercise program in typical outpatient care. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with SSc were consecutively and non-selectively enrolled in an intervention (IG, n=27) or control (CG, n=32) group. Only the IG underwent the POTp twice a week for 1.5 hours. At baseline, 12, 24, and 48 weeks, all patients were assessed by a blinded physiotherapist for the hands/mouth function (delta finger-to-palm, handgrip strength, Hand and Mobility in Scleroderma, interincisal/interlabial distance), and self-evaluated their hand (Cochin Hand Function Scale) and mouth function (Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis scale), disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ], SSc HAQ), and quality of life (Short Form-36). RESULTS: At week 24, compared to the significant deterioration in the CG, we found a significant improvement in the IG in the objectively assessed hands/mouth function and in the subjectively evaluated hand function and disability. The improvement was clinically meaningful (by >20%) in a substantial proportion of patients. Although the improvement in most outcomes was still present at week 48, the maximum effect was not sustained. CONCLUSIONS: This 24-week POTp not only attenuated the progressive deterioration, but also significantly improved the function of the hands/mouth, which was clinically meaningful in a substantial proportion of patients with SSc.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the baseline clinical characteristics of juvenile systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients in the international juvenile SSc inception cohort, and to compare these characteristics between the classically defined juvenile diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) and limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) subtypes and among those with overlap features. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using baseline visit data. Information on demographic characteristics, organ system evaluation, treatment, and patient- and physician-reported outcomes was extracted and summary statistics applied. Comparisons between juvenile dcSSc and lcSSc subtypes and patients with and without overlap features were performed using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: At data extraction, 150 juvenile SSc patients were enrolled across 42 centers; 83% were White, 80% were female, juvenile dcSSc predominated (72%), and 17% of the cohort had overlap features. Significant differences were found between juvenile dcSSc and juvenile lcSSc regarding modified Rodnan skin thickness score, the presence of Gottron's papules, digital tip ulceration, results of the 6-minute walk test, and composite pulmonary and cardiac involvement. All of these were more frequent in dcSSc except for cardiac involvement. Juvenile dcSSc patients had significantly worse scores for physician-rated disease activity and damage. A significantly higher occurrence of Gottron's papules and musculoskeletal and composite pulmonary involvement, and a significantly lower frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon, were seen in those with overlap features. CONCLUSION: Results from a large international juvenile SSc cohort demonstrate significant differences between juvenile dcSSc and juvenile lcSSc patients, including more globally severe disease and increased frequency of interstitial lung disease in juvenile dcSSc patients, while those with lcSSc have more frequent cardiac involvement. Those with overlap features had an unexpected higher frequency of interstitial lung disease.
- MeSH
- difuzní sklerodermie * diagnóza MeSH
- intersticiální plicní nemoci * MeSH
- kožní vředy * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lokalizovaná sklerodermie MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- systémová sklerodermie * diagnóza epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Systemic scleroderma (SSc) is a systemic immune-mediated connective tissue disease characterized by fibroproductive changes in connective tissue and microvascular disorders. The disease affects the skin, musculoskeletal system and internal organs. It is a disease with a significant rate of morbidity and mortality, significantly worsening the quality of life of patients. Early initiation of therapy is necessary to prevent disease progression. This review article discusses the current possibilities of early diagnosis of systemic scleroderma.
- Klíčová slova
- diagnosis, diagnostics, early forms of scleroderma, systemic scleroderma, systemic sclerosis,
- MeSH
- časná diagnóza MeSH
- kvalita života MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoci pojiva * MeSH
- systémová sklerodermie * diagnóza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Data for outcomes of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) are limited. We examined the incidence and prevalence of ESRD due to scleroderma in Europe and the outcomes among these patients following initiation of RRT. STUDY DESIGN: Registry study of incidence and prevalence and a matched cohort study of clinical outcomes. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients represented in any of 19 renal registries that provided data to the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry between 2002 and 2013. PREDICTOR: Scleroderma as the identified cause of ESRD. OUTCOMES: Incidence and prevalence of ESRD from scleroderma. Recovery from RRT dependence, patient survival after ESRD, and graft survival after kidney transplantation. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Incidence and prevalence were calculated using population data from the European Union and standardized to population characteristics in 2005. Patient and graft survival were compared with 2 age- and sex-matched control groups without scleroderma: (1) diabetes mellitus as the cause of ESRD and (2) conditions other than diabetes mellitus as the cause of ESRD. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression. RESULTS: 342 patients with scleroderma (0.14% of all incident RRT patients) were included. Between 2002 and 2013, the range of adjusted annual incidence and prevalence rates of RRT for ESRD due to scleroderma were 0.11 to 0.26 and 0.73 to 0.95 per million population, respectively. Recovery of independent kidney function was greatest in the scleroderma group (7.6% vs 0.7% in diabetes mellitus and 2.0% in other primary kidney diseases control group patients, both P<0.001), though time required to achieve recovery was longer. The 5-year survival probability from day 91 of RRT among patients with scleroderma was 38.9% (95% CI, 32.0%-45.8%), whereas 5-year posttransplantation patient survival and 5-year allograft survival were 88.2% (95% CI, 75.3%-94.6%) and 72.4% (95% CI, 55.0%-84.0%), respectively. Adjusted mortality from day 91 on RRT was higher among patients with scleroderma than observed in both control groups (HRs of 1.25 [95% CI, 1.05-1.48] and 2.00 [95% CI, 1.69-2.39]). In contrast, patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation did not differ between patients with scleroderma and control groups. LIMITATIONS: No data for extrarenal manifestations, treatment, or recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients with scleroderma who receive dialysis for more than 90 days was worse than for those with other causes of ESRD. Patient survival after transplantation was similar to that observed among patients with ESRD due to other conditions. Patients with scleroderma had a higher rate of recovery from RRT dependence than controls.
- Klíčová slova
- Systemic sclerosis, dialysis, disease course, disease registry, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), incidence, kidney transplantation, mortality, outcomes, prognosis, renal recovery, renal replacement therapy (RRT), scleroderma,
- MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- chronické selhání ledvin etiologie mortalita terapie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hodnocení rizik MeSH
- internacionalita MeSH
- Kaplanův-Meierův odhad MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- náhrada funkce ledvin metody mortalita MeSH
- prediktivní hodnota testů MeSH
- příčina smrti * MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- proporcionální rizikové modely MeSH
- registrace * MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- systémová sklerodermie komplikace diagnóza terapie MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
Systemic sclerosis is classed as a diffuse (systemic) disease of connective tissue. It is a heterogeneous disease significantly shortening life expectancy. Its etiology is unknown. Pathogenetic interplay is assumed to involve a triad of pathological autoimmune inflammation, vasculopathy and fibrosis. Clinical manifestations can be classed based on the preponderant pathogenetic process. Vasculopathy is manifested by secondary Raynauds phenomenon with abnormal findings on the nailfold capillaroscopy, skin telangiectasias, gastric antral vascular ectasia, life threatening scleroderma renal crisis, digital ulcerations and prognostically severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. The treatment of vascular manifestations uses medicines with vasodilation effect. The manifestation of inflammation is accentuated by pleurisy, pericarditis, myositis, synovitis/arthritis and alveolitis. Finally, the manifestation of fibrosis predominates in association with dermatosclerosis, interstitial lung disease and fibrotic impairment of the gastrointestinal tract. Medicines with immunomodulatory or immunosupressive effects are used to affect the inflammation and fibrosis. Despite the aforementioned, there is still no universally effective treatment available. The pharmacological therapy of this disease is organ specific and symptomatic.Key words: capillaroscopy - digital ulcers - interstitial lung disease - pulmonary arterial hypertension - scleroderma renal crisis - systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE: The early, simple and reliable detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in SSc (DETECT) study described a new algorithm for early detection of PAH in patients with SSc. The aim of this retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional study was to apply a modified DETECT calculator in patients with SSc in the East Bohemian region, Czech Republic, to assess the risk of PAH and to compare these results with PAH screening based on the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) 2009 guidelines. METHODS: Sixty patients were recruited with a diagnosis of SSc (according to ACR criteria), aged 27-78 years. A modified DETECT algorithm using the modified parameter of (1.4 × right ventricle diameter)(2) in place of right atrium area was applied to all patients. Right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed in all patients with an estimated (by echocardiography) increased systolic pulmonary artery pressure ≥50 mm Hg in accordance with the ESC/ERS guidelines; however, RHC was not performed in patients solely recommended for RHC using the modified DETECT algorithm. RESULTS: Using the modified DETECT calculator, 24/58 (41.4%) patients were recommended for RHC, compared with 14/58 (24.1%) when applying the ESC/ERS 2009 guidelines. PAH was diagnosed in 7/58 (12.1%) patients. During follow-up, PAH was diagnosed in six patients. Of these, four were modified DETECT score-positive for 2 years and all for 1 year before PAH diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The modified DETECT algorithm detects all patients with PAH diagnosed according to ECS/ERS 2009 guidelines and RHC. Data of the 2-year follow-up indicate a possible positive predictive role for the modified DETECT calculator.
- Klíčová slova
- cardiovascular, clinical trials and methods, epidemiology, respiratory, scleroderma and related disorders,
- MeSH
- algoritmy * MeSH
- časná diagnóza * MeSH
- centra terciární péče * MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- echokardiografie MeSH
- incidence MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- následné studie MeSH
- plicní hypertenze diagnóza epidemiologie etiologie MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- srdeční katetrizace MeSH
- systémová sklerodermie komplikace diagnóza MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika epidemiologie MeSH
IgG4-related systemic sclerosing disease (SSD) is a multisystemic condition characterized by an increased number of IgG4-producing plasma cells which occurs mainly in older men. SSD involves particularly pancreas, hepatobiliary system, salivary glands and retroperitoneum. Microscopically, the findings include lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, fibrosis and vascular changes in the form of obliterative phlebitis. Using immunohistochemistry, an increased number of IgG4-positive plasma cells might be detected in affected tissues. Since SSD frequently mimicks a malignancy both clinically and radiologically, this inflammatory sclerosing condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neoplastic and/or pseudoneoplastic lesions.
- MeSH
- diferenciální diagnóza MeSH
- imunoglobulin G analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- plazmatické buňky imunologie MeSH
- systémová sklerodermie * diagnóza imunologie patologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- anglický abstrakt MeSH
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- imunoglobulin G MeSH
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a generalised connective tissue disease of unknown origin, which clinically shows by skin thickening and sclerosis of different extent (scleroderma) and by typical involvement of visceral organs. At the same time fibrotic and sclerotic changes occur in the blood vesel walls. SSc usually involves females at young and middle age. Myalgias, arthralgias and arthritis are nonspecific, tendon friction rubs in fingers are more typical for this diagnosis. Gastrointestinal involvement starts early in the oropharyngeal part, esophagus and proceeds into the distal parts. Fibrotic changes lead to slow transit dysmotility and pseudoobstruction and/or dilation of the bowels. The main symptoms are dysphagia, pyrosis, malabsorption and constipation. SSc produces two major patterns of abnormality within the lungs a fibrosing alveolitis or a primary pulmonary vascular disease. More frequently an insterstitial process develops which can be followed by pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cardiac involvement can also have different forms. Myocardial fibrosis usually appears at first in the conduction system by arrhythmias and various conduction blocks while pericarditis is mostly asymptomatic. Renal manifestation of SSc is observed in 8-10% patients. The most severe form--scleroderma renal crisis is characterised by the new onset of accelerated hypertension and rapidly progressive oliguric renal failure. No therapies have been proven to modify the course of SSc. Some of the drugs can affect only the skin changes. Majority of the currently applied agents have only a symptomatic effect.
