PMID: 11323574Apr 27, 2001Paper

Systemic sclerosis. Which therapies?

Minerva medica
L Bettoni

Abstract

Sistemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease characterized by excessive deposit of collagen in the skin and in different viscera such as the lung, the heart, the kidney, the gastrointestinal tract and muscoloskeletal system. Fibrosis is a natural and not reversible consequence of this extracellular matrix accumulation. Past management strategies have not been successful, usually. New physiopathologic knowledges establish the bases to obtain a more successful control of the disease evolution. Literature data underline the importance of a timely and personalized therapy based on kind, seriousness and stage of internal organs involvement to allow the patient to continue normal public relations, a good quality of life and the improvement of its global prognosis of this disease, often cause of disability and death. Actually, drug therapeutic management is based on combined use of vascular drugs: topical (Nitroglycerin patches), oral (Ace inhibitors and Calcium channel blockers) or, in severe cases, parenteral vasodilators (Prostaglandins and Prostacyclins), immunosuppressive therapies (Cyclophosphamide, Cyclosporin A, Methotrexate) and antifibrotic drugs (Penicil-lamine, Interferons).

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antianginal Drugs: Mechanisms of Action

Antianginal drugs, including nitrates, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, are used in the treatment of angina pectoris. Here is the latest research on their use and their mechanism of action.

Related Papers

Archives of Dermatology
Allen N Sapadin, Raul Fleischmajer
Harefuah
Vered MolinaYehuda Shoenfeld
Clinical Immunology : the Official Journal of the Clinical Immunology Society
Yuko OtaHisashi Yamanaka
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved