Cyclophosphamide in systemic sclerosis: still in search of a 'real life' scenario.
In systemic sclerosis (SSc), there is no proven treatment to prevent disease progression. In a recent meta-analysis of three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and six open prospective studies on cyclophosphamide (CYC), no significant changes in lung function were observed. However, CYC is associated with an improvement of Mahler's dyspnea index, short form-36 (physical and mental domains), and health-related quality of life, contributing to the amelioration of patients' functional status. Further RCTs on early SSc are needed to assess the real efficacy of CYC in inducing remission and increasing survival.
Miniati
Irene
I
Department of Biomedicine, Division of Rheumatology AOUC, Denothe Center, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 18, 50139 Florence, Italy.
Valentini
Gabriele
G
Cerinic
Marco Matucci
MM
D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide