Systemic sclerosis: Current concepts of skin and systemic manifestations

David R. Pearson, Victoria P. Werth, Lisa Pappas-Taffer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is an uncommon autoimmune connective tissue disease with multiorgan system involvement and significant associated morbidity and mortality. Cutaneous signs and clinical manifestations are of particular importance, as they may be recognized before systemic manifestations, allowing earlier risk stratification into the limited and diffuse cutaneous subtypes, as well as earlier initiation of treatment. Important cutaneous manifestations include Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcers, cutaneous sclerosis, calcinosis cutis, telangiectasias, pruritus, and dyspigmentation. Despite investigation of a wide variety of treatments, no FDA-approved pharmacologic therapies exist for systemic sclerosis, and data from high-quality studies are limited. In the following review, we will discuss skin-directed therapies. Although there is evidence to support specific treatments for Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcers, and cutaneous sclerosis, there are limited rigorous studies evaluating the treatment of other cutaneous signs and clinical manifestations. Additional randomized-controlled trials and large observational studies are necessary to develop future evidence-based treatment options.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)459-474
Number of pages16
JournalClinics in Dermatology
Volume36
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research and Development and Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018

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