Active clinical trials for "Scleroderma, Diffuse"

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating, multiple subcutaneous (SC) doses of VIB7734 in participants with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE), Sjogren's Syndrome, Systemic Sclerosis, Polymyositis, and Dermatomyositis.

The purpose of this study is to learn about the effect of Apollo (a vibrating wearable about the side of an Apple Watch) on fatigue, Raynaud symptoms, depression, quality of life, and disease symptoms in patients with systemic sclerosis. SSc patients frequently have fatigue as a characteristic feature of their disease and fatigue negatively impacts quality of life (Haythornthwaite 2003, Richards 2003, Suarez-Almazor 2007, Basta 2017). The prevalence of fatigue among SSc patients is 75%, with 61% ranking fatigue among their top three most distressing complaints. Fatigue is also associated with poor sleep quality, greater pain and depressive symptoms (Sandusky 2009). We hypothesize that treatment with Apollo over 1 month will improve fatigue. If successful, the Apollo technology will be the first treatment option for fatigue and Raynaud's in this population.

Functionality in patients with SSc? Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic connective tissue disease characterized by microvascular involvement, immunological dysfunction, extracellular matrix deposition in the skin and internal organ involvement. Vascular disease has an important role in the pathogenesis of SSc. Especially as a result of involvement of micro-vessel and digital arteries, digital ulcer (DU) formation may be seen. DUs are responsible for pain, poor quality of life, impairment of life activities and morbidity in patients with SSc. , they are correlated to disease severity and outcome. Approximately half of SSc patients have DU during the course of the disease. Recurrent DU is observed in 10% of the patients. In 75% of these patients, DU occurs 5 years after diagnosis. Patients with anti-SCL 70+ develop DU 5 years earlier than those with anti-centromere positive. The development of DU may take a long time to heal if there is underlying calcinosis. In a study, it was seen that the recovery of DU was 93.6 days if there is underlying calcinosis, and 76.2 days if not. DUs can be infected and thus complicated by osteomyelitis. In a retrospective study, it was reported that 42% of infected DUs were associated with osteomyelitis. DU management is a great challenge for the clinician and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Ozone has a place in medical use since the 19th century, as it is an oxidant and disinfectant. In recent studies, it has been reported to be antiviral and bactericidal. Therefore, it has indications such as coronary artery disease, chronic hepatitis and chronic low back pain. It has also been shown to have a positive role in trophic ulcer, ischemic ulcer and diabetic ulcer healing. The mechanism by which ozone therapy provides wound healing is not fully understood. In addition, it improves microcirculation in the capillary vessels by improving flexibility and stability of the cell membrane and limiting the aggregation and adhesion of platelets. In the literature, it was stated in a study that ozone therapy was effective for the treatment of DU in SSc patients. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effect of ozone therapy on patients who are resistant to medical treatment and who have impaired quality of life for a long time.

This study will evaluate the use of botulinum toxin for microstomia (also known as reduced oral aperture) in scleroderma patients. Botox is a neurotoxin that functions as a paralytic by preventing the release of acetylcholine to inhibit muscle contracture and decrease fibrosis by decreasing differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, decreasing expression of collagen, and increasing expression of matrix metalloproteinase1-3. The study will include three arms: the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) group who will receive injections of Botox to the masseter, the perioral group who will receive injections of Botox around the lips, and a control group who will receive no treatment for ROA. Outcome measurements will include measurement of oral aperture size through measurement inter-labial distance and between the upper and lower lips and the inter-incisal distance, patient satisfaction via a Skindex16 survey, mouth disability via the Mouth Handicap in Systemic Sclerosis Scale (MHISS), and patient and physician satisfaction using the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS). The maximum number of subjects to be consented for this study is 30. The study is expected to last four months per subject from time of consent to last clinical evaluation. Conditions that may result in a subject exiting the study prior to completion date include non-compliance, withdrawal of consent, or safety concerns such as adverse events as a result of treatment.

The hypothesis is that intensive aerobic and endurance muscle training is safe and beneficial in patients with systemic sclerosis and concurrent interstitial lung disease. The purpose of the study is to examine the effect of an eight week intensive aerobic exercise and muscle endurance training program for patients with systemic sclerosis and 50-100 % of forced vital capacity. A single subject experimental design with repeated systematic measures during a six week A-phase (baseline period) and an eight week B-phase (intervention period) was used. Physical capacity (six minute walk test), aerobic capacity (submaximal treadmill test) and muscle endurance in shoulder and hip flexion (Functional Index 2) are assessed every other week throughout the 14 week study. Activity limitation (Health Assessment Questionnaire), quality of life (Short Form 36), Raynaud, Fatigue and Global Health during the recent week (Visual Analogue Scales) are assessed at weeks 0, 6, 14. The exercise program includes aerobic exercise corresponding to 15 on the Borg RPE scale (strenuous) and muscular endurance training three times/week.

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability of imatinib (gleevec) in subjects who have systemic sclerosis. Imatinib has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of newly diagnosed adult patients with CML (newly diagnosed adult patients and for the treatment of patients with an accelerated phase. Imatinib is also approved for the treatment of patients with a certain type of gastrointestinal cancer (called stromal tumors) but it has not been approved to treat systemic sclerosis. Imatinib works by interfering with an enzyme called tyrosine phosphatase resulting in suppression of the immune system. It als interferes with a protein called platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFr) that has been linked to increased fibrosis.

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that involves the skin and other internal organs for which there are few effective treatment options. We hypothesize that treatment with abatacept, a new therapy recently approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, may reduce the progression of skin thickening and fibrosis in people with scleroderma.

In vitro studies have shown that imatinib 1mM inhibits strongly the growth of cutaneous fibroblasts. The hypothesis is that imatinib inhibits PDGFR which is known to be a potential target for the molecule, as recently also proposed after the discovery of autoantibodies activating the PDGF receptors. Recent data indicate that TGFb is also a potential target of imatinib. Cutaneous scleroderma is characterized by progressive cutaneous fibrosis caused by hyperactive dermal fibroblasts. Since no established treatment for skin sclerosis in scleroderma is currently available. This study will test the safety and efficacy of imatinib in the treatment of patients with scleroderma and severe cutaneous involvement.

The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effectiveness of an investigational device which is similar in appearance to a "tanning bed" but which emits ultraviolet irradiation of a specific wavelength known as UVA1. This device has not been approved by the FDA for general use in this country, as yet, but it has been used quite successfully in Europe for several years in treating such conditions as scleroderma, keloids, and other fibrosing conditions of the skin. Your participation in this study may yield important information regarding the safety and effectiveness of this form of light therapy for the treatment of these skin conditions which, at present, are difficult to treat.

Although the aetiology of SSc-PAH remains elusive, vascular dysfunction seems to be the initial event and statins through their vasculoprotective effect might be of value in the treatment armamentarium of PAH related to SSc. The aim was to assess the efficacy of rosuvastatin in ameliorating vascular dysfunction and in the management of SSc-related PAH.