Clinically Significant Interstitial Lung Disease in Limited Scleroderma

Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Management

“…The association between SSC and ILD is strongest in patients who suffer from dcSSc although there is a well described association with lcSSC and ssSSc [17,18]. Patients with dcSSc typically develop the ILD early in the course of their disease.…”

“…However, because the antibody associations are neither specific nor sensitive [18], the efficacy of serologies as a clinical predictor of ILD is limited. These autoantibodies may ultimately prove to be markers of specific visceral involvement but a greater understanding of the significance of the autobody profile is needed.…”

A case of pulmonary fibrosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma sine scleroderma and ANCA associated vasculitis.

“…Median survival time for those with NSIP was 15.3 years compared with 3 years for those with UIP (Fischer et al 2008). The HRCT features in patients with SSc are very similar to that of patients with idiopathic NSIP and are characterized by ground glass opacification (Desai et al 2004).…”

“…In addition, patients who presented with advanced disease had a poor outcome than those with early presentation. This heightens the need for earlier recognition and intervention (Fischer et al 2008).…”

The Ambitious Goal of Validating Prognostic Biomarkers for Systemic Sclerosis-related Interstitial Lung Disease

“…These data were confirmed by a study of the SSc population included in the European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research group database 4 . With regard to the course of ILD, some patients develop severe and rapidly progressive interstitial lung involvement during the early phase of the disease, while others may show an indolent course without a relevant influence on pulmonary function or survival 1,5 . Assessment of lung involvement and close monitoring of lung function are therefore mandatory.…”