Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Systemic pharmacological treatment of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: a systematic literature review
Authors' conclusion
There are several systemic treatments, across four medication classes, that are effective therapies for the management of SSc DUs. However, a lack of robust data means it is not possible to define the optimal treatment regimen for SSc DUs.
Study context
- Population
- Adult patients with SSc digital ulcers
- Participants
- 2,588 patients47 studies
- Exposure
- Systemic pharmacological treatments for SSc digital ulcers
- Outcome
- Efficacy of systemic pharmacological treatments for SSc DUs
Methodological detailsnarrative synthesis, risk of bias assessed, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective longitudinal observational studies
- Narrative synthesis
- Risk of bias assessed
- RCTs and prospective longitudinal observational studies
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- i.v. iloprost, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and atorvastatin are effective for the treatment of active digital ulcers (DUs)
- Bosentan reduced the rate of future DUs in two RCTs (moderate risk of bias (RoB)) and eight observational studies (OBSs) at low to high RoB
- JAK inhibitors may be effective for active DUs (two small studies, moderate RoB)
- No data to support immunosuppression or anti-platelet agents in DU management
- 18 RCTs of 1927 patients and 29 OBSs of 661 patients
- Narrative summaries due to study heterogeneity
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Systemic pharmacological treatment of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: a systematic literature review. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 19 June 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →