View clinical trials related to Scleroderma.
Filter by:This Study is a collaborative project with partners (people with scleroderma and stakeholders) designed to refine an internet program for patients with scleroderma and to compare the internet program to an authoritative educational book (Taking Charge of Systemic Sclerosis [TOSS]). During a 16-week comparative effectiveness 16-week randomized controlled trial, the investigators will recruit up to 250 patients who will be randomized to either TOSS or authoritative book for patients, The Scleroderma Book: A Guide for Patients and Families.
This study evaluates if dabigatran etexilate is safe for use in patients with Scleroderma and Interstitial Lung Disease. All patients will receive 75mg of dabigatran etexilate twice a day for 6 months.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of the Celution Device in the processing of an autologous graft consisting of adipose derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) in the treatment of hand dysfunction due to scleroderma.
The purpose of this study is to learn about the effect atorvastatin on blood vessel function and Raynaud symptoms in patients with early diffuse systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis is a disease characterized by blood vessel injury, immune system activation and fibrosis. Blood vessel injury is thought to be important early in the disease. Blood vessel complications of systemic sclerosis include Raynaud phenomena, finger and toe ulcers, and pulmonary hypertension. While atorvastatin reduces cholesterol, it is recognized to have many effects beyond cholesterol reduction. These include improvement of blood vessel function and reduction of fibrosis. We hypothesize that treatment with atorvastatin over 16 weeks will improve blood vessel function and Raynaud symptom in patients with early diffuse systemic sclerosis. We hope that by targeting therapy early in the disease we may delay blood vessel changes and improve Raynaud symptoms.
The purpose of this study is to look at whether bortezomib, mycophenolate or the combination of both is better to treat scarring of the lung caused by Systemic Sclerosis.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc, also known as scleroderma) is a disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and organs, inflammation, and an abnormal endothelial cell lining inside of vessels. A common and deadly complication of SSc is pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is an abnormal elevation in the blood pressure within the lung blood vessels. Early identification and treatment of PH is important in SSc, and no clinical factors can predict which patients will develop PH with acceptable accuracy. A potential marker of PH in SSc is the presence of increased amounts of endothelial microparticles (EMPs), which are substances circulating in the blood that were released from damaged vessel wall endothelial lining. A main goal of this study is to investigate if there is a difference in EMP levels between SSc patients with and without PH. The investigators will also use human endothelial cells in a lab environment to test whether these EMPs isolated from SSc patients are actually causing damage to the vessel lining. Lastly, the investigators will investigate the potential benefit of a medication used after transplant, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). This will be done by causing damage to isolated human endothelial cells and treating them with MMF. The main goal of this portion of our study is to see if EMP levels are reduced when cells are treated with MMF. Overall, the investigators anticipate the following outcomes of this study: 1) use EMP levels to differentiation patients with SSc who have PH from those without PH, 2) use EMPs to understand how endothelial damage occurs in SSc, and 3) use EMPs to help us develop new treatments for patients with vascular diseases.
The overall objective of this project is to study the influence of modern anti-inflammatory treatments in established inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) on immune response elicited by pneumococcal vaccination using 13-valent conjugate vaccine and influenza vaccination. In addition, the aim is to study the clinical aspects of vaccination regarding: tolerability in immunosuppressed patients with IRD, impact on existing rheumatic disease, possible association with onset of new autoimmune diseases, long-term immunity following pneumococcal vaccination, efficacy in preventing invasive pneumococcal diseases and influenza related serious infections. Results from this study are expected to bridge the existing knowledge gap and contribute to body of evidence needed for recommendations and implementation of vaccination program in IRD patients.
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.