Imatinib Mesylate Said to Offer Promise for Scleroderma Patients : Tyrosine kinase inhibitor appears to reduce skin thickness and improve lung function.

An RCT published online evaluated methotrexate in a group of 85 children with active juvenile localized scleroderma, and found it to be effective and well tolerated (Arthritis Rheum. 2011 [doi:10.1002/art.30264]).

Over a 12-month period, infrared thermography of target lesions showed significant benefits from methotrexate treatment, beginning at 9 months. The proportion of patients without disease flare was significantly higher among those treated with methotrexate, but the number of patients with new lesions did not differ between the two groups. Many of the side effects were attributed to concomitant corticosteroids, which were withdrawn after 3 months.

Dr. Kay also described the results of a 1-year RCT of rituximab in 14 scleroderma patients (Rheumatology 2010;49:271-80). Eight patients received rituximab according to the lymphoma regimen (2 cycles of rituximab 375 mg/m

Dr. Kay is a consultant to Array BioPharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Centocor Ortho-Biotech Inc., Eisai Research Institute, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, and UCB. He receives research funding from Roche and Sanofi-Aventis.

In one study of 30 patients, treatment with imatinib led to improvements in several quality of life measures.

Source DR. KAY