Patients with systemic sclerosis, high baseline skin fibrosis may be more likely to regress in treatment

The absence of tendon friction rubs and the presence of advanced fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis were predictive of treatment regression among 11 candidate predictors for skin improvement, according to recently published research.

Researchers studied data from 919 patients enrolled in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) and had diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) was used to evaluate skin fibrosis. A decrease of more than 5 points, down from at least 7 or more points at baseline, after 1 year was the primary outcome. Progression of skin fibrosis was defined as an increase of greater than 5 points and an increase of 25% or more in 1 year.

Analysis showed high baseline mRSS was most predictive of skin improvement, while low baseline mRSS was most predictive of a lack of skin progression. Ninety-five of the 919 patients with dcSSc who demonstrated skin progression within 1 year had a low baseline mRSS. During a 1-year period, 218 patients had improvement in skin involvement.

“A key message resulting from our study is the important role of baseline mRSS to predict either progression or regression of skin fibrosis,” the researchers wrote. “This also supports our previous EUSTAR analysis on worsening of skin fibrosis.” – by Shirley Pulawski

Disclosure s : Dobrota reports no relevant financial disclosure. Please see the full study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Dobrota R, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208024.