Paraclinical Aspects in Systemic Sclerosis

• Published in: International journal of general medicine Vol. 15; pp. 4391 - 4398
• Main Authors: Bobeica, Carmen, Niculet, Elena, Musat, Carmina Liana, Craescu, Mihaela, Stefanescu, Bogdan Ioan, Dinu, Ciprian, Chiscop, Iulia, Chirobocea, Silvia, Nechita, Luiza, Iancu, Alina Viorica, Stefanescu, Victorita, Balan, Gabriela, Stefanopol, Ioana Anca, Pelin, Ana Maria, Tatu, Alin Laurentiu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 30.04.2022; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Antibodies; antinuclear antibodies; capilaroscopy; coherent optical tomography; confocal microscopy; Cytokines; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Inflammation; Review; Scleroderma (Disease); Skin; Systemic scleroderma; systemic sclerosis; Viral antibodies; Romania; capillaroscopy; coherent optical tomography; systemic sclerosis; confocal microscopy; antinuclear antibodies
• ISSN: 1178-7074; 1178-7074
• DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S355662

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an autoimmune substrate that affects the skin and a large number of internal organs. The chronic inflammatory process is sustained by a wide range of cytokines and chemokines, which are discharged by inflammatory cells, with fibrosis and nail bed vascular changes (disorganized vasculature architecture with microhemorrhages, megacapillaries and areas without capillaries). Confocal microscopy contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in chronic inflammation and mainly targets the field of research. Coherent optical tomography, capillaroscopy, and skin biopsy are useful for the differential diagnosis of SSc with other sclerodermoid syndromes. The immunological profile is a classification criterion for SSc and directs the diagnosis to the two subsets of the disease. Multisystemic damage requires evaluation with the help of a set of investigations specific to each affected organ, such as: diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, forced vital capacity, 6-minute walk test, high-resolution computed tomography standard and reduced sequential, cardiac ultrasound and right cardiac catheterization. The current possibilities of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring are permanently adapting to new medical discoveries.