Pharmacotherapy of systemic sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon autoimmune disease with variable degrees of fibroproliferation in blood vessels and certain organs of the body. There is currently no cure. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature regarding pathogenesis and treatment of complications of SSc.


METHODS
All available articles regarding research related to SSc pathogenesis and treatment listed in the PubMed database were searched; relevant articles were then reviewed and used as sources of information for this review.


RESULTS
This review attempts to highlight for the reader some current thought regarding mechanisms of SSc pathogenesis and how autoimmunity relates to vascular changes and fibrogenesis of the disease, as well as providing a review of results of completed clinical trials and current ongoing clinical trials that address organ-specific or global therapies for this disease. This can aid physicians who provide medical care for patients with SSc.


CONCLUSIONS
SSc is a complex autoimmune disease, the pathogenesis of which, although not completely understood, is under active study; new insights into pathogenesis are continually being discovered. Although there is no effective disease-modifying treatment for patients with SSc, quality of life, morbidity and mortality can be improved by using targeted therapy directed at affecting the consequences of damage to lungs, blood vessels, kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract. Innovative approaches to treating SSc are under intense investigation.
Postlethwaite
Arnold E
AE
Department of Medicine, Division of Connective Tissue Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Room G326, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. apostlethwai@uthsc.edu
Harris
L Jeff
LJ
Raza
Syed H
SH
Kodura
Swapna
S
Akhigbe
Titilola
T
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology