title: Biomarkers in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: SSc is a CTD, which may cause critical organ fibrosis. It has a highly variable clinical presentation and course. While it is more common in females, this heterogeneity has led to significant problems with classification. Biomedical (clinical) and biomolecular markers to identify diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic response have been elusive in part as a result of difficulties with classification and also due to the rarity of the disease. Existing biomarkers have been identified largely in small cohorts and larger cross-sectional or occasional longitudinal observational cohorts. The nature of biomarkers requires well-defined clinical characteristics and/or defined clinical outcomes and this has been extremely challenging to the international SSc research community. This brief review summarizes the current level of knowledge; however, it most importantly highlights the potential now to find biomarkers through a large, multicentre, international collaborative group approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Bone and Joint Unit, Dublin Academic Healthcare, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Veale
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000097:blood; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007378:Interleukins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D023201:CD40 Ligand