Sistemic sclerosis

Genome-wide association studies have revealed several genes predisposing to autoimmunity, however, concordance rates in monozygotic twins are significantly below 50% for several autoimmune diseases. The limited presence of a strong genetic association only in some patients supports that other non-genetic mechanisms are active in these pathologies. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA signaling regulate gene expression and are sensitive to external stimuli and they might be as bridging between genetic and environmental factors...

The currently recommended treatment for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is pegilated interferon alpha (IFN alpha) plus ribavirin. Despite the numerous benefits of this therapy, there is an increasing concern regarding his tolerance. Among the most common side effects, interferon may trigger the onset or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. When chronic hepatitis C coexists with an autoimmune disorder, it is not clear whether using interferon is better than avoiding it. We evaluated the disease state of a 55-year old female affected by sistemic sclerosis (SSc), during and after therapy with IFNalpha pegilated plus ribavirin for chronic HCV infection...

BACKGROUND: Recently, several studies have demonstrated the presence of circulating endothelial progenitors (CEPs) responsible for angiogenesis. Notably, these cells are able to migrate to ischemic tissues and differentiate in situ in mature endothelial cells. Aim of this study was to assess the presence of CEPs in the peripheral blood of patients with Sistemic Sclerosis (SSc) and evaluate their significance as an attempt of re-vascularization MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples of peripheral blood from 40 healthy subjects and 56 patients with SSc were studied...

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...