Management of Scleroderma-Associated Pulmonary Involvement

Abstract

In the absence of a disease-modifying treatment for systemic sclerosis (SSc), the management of the main causes of morbidity and mortality is essential to offer the best possible patient care. Accordingly, early diagnosis and treatment of lung involvement plays a central role. Several new agents against pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) have driven a notable progress in managing this complication in the recent years. Prostacyclin derivates, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, or guanylate cyclase stimulators are used today in single or combined therapy to improve the prognosis of PAH patients. Regarding interstitial lung disease (ILD) cyclophosphamide remains the most evidence-based therapy for SSc ILD. Small-scale interventional or observational studies support mycophenolate mofetil for either first-line or maintenance therapy after an initial course of cyclophosphamide. Observational studies also show promising results for biologic agents like Rituximab, and autologous stem cell transplant appears to be an option for severe and carefully selected cases. Moreover, nintedanib and pirfenidone have been shown to be effective in recent studies for idiopathic lung fibrosis. Randomized controlled trials are needed to test the effects of these potential therapies in SSc-ILD. The development of targeted therapies for lung involvement in SSc, together with the increasing knowledge regarding patient selection and management of the available drugs, will help to improve care of SSc patients with lung involvement.