Anti-inflammatory: new trends in the treatment of the patient with systemic sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The treatment of systemic sclerosis is a difficult challenge because of the present lack of drugs definitely proven to alter the overall course of the disease.


OBJECTIVE
To address the current guidelines and to analyze the perspectives opened by the availability of new drugs and the identification of previously unknown pathways.


METHODS
The statements on current treatment are based on recently developed EULAR recommendations. The perspectives reflect the opinion of the authors on emerging topics.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of systemic sclerosis has improved in recent years because a number of drugs have been shown to influence single disease manifestations. The identification of previously unknown pathways might open the way for further developments.
Valentini
Gabriele
G
Second University of Naples, Rheumatology Unit, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy. gabriele.valentini@unina2.it
Cerinic
Marco Matucci
MM
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate