View clinical trials related to Scleroderma.
Filter by:To investigate the ability of divalproex sodium, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, to improve the digital manifestations of scleroderma including digital edema, calcinosis cutis, digital ulcers, and joint contractures.
This is a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial assessing the therapeutic efficacy of Botulinum toxin A (Onabotulinumtoxin A) in treating scleroderma-associated Raynaud's syndrome. Each patient will undergo injection with a treatment dose of Botulinum toxin A in one randomly-selected hand, and the contralateral hand will be injected with sterile saline (placebo) to serve as a control. Study participants at the first study visit will complete study questionnaires, their hands will be assessed clinically for digital ulceration, and their hands will undergo non-invasive laser Doppler imaging to assess blood flow. After this initial assessment, the patients will undergo peri-arterial injection of Botulinum toxin A in one hand, and of sterile saline solution (placebo) in the other, in a randomized, blinded manner. Patient will report the severity of their Raynaud's symptoms weekly over the four month study period. At one month post-injection, the patient will complete study questionnaires, their hands will be assessed clinically for digital ulceration, and their hands will undergo non-invasive laser Doppler imaging. At four months post-injection, the patient will again complete study questionnaires, their hands will be assessed clinically for digital ulceration, and their hands will undergo non-invasive laser Doppler imaging. In addition, patient will be given the option of one week post-injection visit, at which point the same assessment will be performed. At the conclusion of the study, unblinding will occur.
This is a 10 year study of scleroderma patients with calcinosis 1) to better understand how common and if there are any risk factors for having calcinosis 2) to identify common complications associated with scleroderma-related calcinosis. .
Many patients with scleroderma have damage to their kidneys caused by the disease. There is limited evidence for treatments to prevent this damage or stop it progressing. Blocking a substance in the blood called endothelin has helped treat some aspects of scleroderma. The purpose of this study is to see how effective a new endothelin blocker called Zibotentan is in treating patients who have scleroderma and have gone on to develop reduced kidney function as a complication. It will be given in addition to the accepted treatments used for scleroderma. There will be three parts to this study each for a different group of patients: - ZEBRA 1 for patients with mild or moderate kidney disease caused by scleroderma - ZEBRA 2A for patients with a more severe, acute form of kidney disease caused by scleroderma (scleroderma renal crisis) who do not require dialysis - ZEBRA 2B for patients who have had scleroderma renal crisis and are on dialysis
Scleroderma and other rheumatologic conditions can affect the skin. Scleroderma in particular involves skin thickening and hardening. Currently, looking at the degree that the skin is affected by scleroderma is measured based on a combination of a physical exam and a skin biopsy. The researchers propose to measure skin hardness using ultrasound imaging of elasticity. They will use a technique using acoustic radiation force impulse/shear wave velocity imaging , known as ARFI/SVI). The investigators hypothesize that ARFI/SVI may be able to distinguish between normal skin and skin affected by scleroderma.. This tool may also help to quantify the amount of fibrosis in the skin. This type of radiologic biomarker could be used to help confirm the diagnosis of scleroderma.
Patients with scleroderma can develop heart failure due to high blood pressure in the lungs (a condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension). It is important to find pulmonary arterial hypertension early, so that it can be treated before heart failure develops. However, the tests that we now use to find the earliest form of this disease in scleroderma patients are not good enough. This study will examine whether tests performed during exercise can improve our ability to find early pulmonary arterial hypertension. The study will also try to identify genes that are responsible for the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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Autologous stem cell therapy has been shown to be effective in patients with systemic sclerosis. Nevertheless treatment is associated with treatment related mortality and patients die during follow up despite successful transplantation. Intention of this trial is to improve overall survival by modifying the existing protocol used for the ASTIS trial. To reduce treatment toxicity we reduce the dose of Cyclophosphamide (CYC) for mobilisation to 2x1g. Especially in patients with cardiac manifestations we also modify the conditioning regimen by adding thiotepa and reducing CYC; as CYC has known cardiotoxic side effects.
The investigators purposes are to define the prevalence of omeprazole resistance gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc), to compare the efficacy of omeprazole in combination with algycon versus omeprazole in combination with domperidone on the severity of reflux symptoms in omeprazole resistant GERD in SSc, and to compare the efficacy of omeprazole in combination with algycon versus omeprazole in combination with domperidone on the frequency of symptoms in omeprazole- resistant GERD in SSc.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterised by inflammation and scarring of the lung and is the leading cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in many other connective tissue diseases (CTDs) such as polymyositis/dermatomyositis and mixed connective tissue disease. When ILD is extensive and/or progressive, immunosuppressive medication is often required to stabilize lung disease and alleviate symptoms. Current standard care for CTD associated ILD is extrapolated from studies performed in individuals with systemic sclerosis and comprises low dose corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral azathioprine. In some individuals even this intensive immunosuppression is insufficient to prevent deterioration, and in a significant minority of affected individuals this results in respiratory failure and death. Rituximab has recently been reported as an effective 'rescue therapy' for stabilizing and even improving ILD in this patient group. Based on observations gained from this experience, the investigators believe that rituximab is a potential important alternative to current best therapy for this patient group. This study has therefore been initiated to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab (compared with standard therapy) in patients with progressive CTD related ILD.