2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
1 Update on General Medicine
Chapter 9: Rheumatic Disorders
Systemic Sclerosis
Treatment
Treatment is aimed at controlling problems in the specific organ systems involved. Several agents in the antihypertensive class of endothelin-1 receptor antagonists are sometimes beneficial in patients with pulmonary hypertension. ACE inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of hypertension due to renal disease. Patients with Raynaud phenomenon are treated with calcium channel blockers. Immunosuppressive agents, including methotrexate and cyclophosphamide, have proved effective in the treatment of diffuse SSc cutaneous manifestations and may slow the progression of disease. Management of inflammatory joint disease is similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis.
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Kowal-Bielecka O, Fransen J, Avouac J, et al; EUSTAR Coauthors. Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(8):1327–1339.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 1 - Update on General Medicine. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.