Current perspectives on the immunopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis

Current perspectives on the immunopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc or scleroderma) is a progressive and highly debilitating autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation, vasculopathy, and extensive fibrosis. SSc is highly heterogeneous in its clinical presentation, extent and severity of skin and internal organ involvement, and clinical course and has the highest fatality rate among connective tissue diseases. While clinical outcom...

The immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that is triggered by unknown exogenous agents in subjects with a specific genetic background. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex class II region are the only ones that have been consistently associated with the disease. However, susceptibility is probably mediated by a heterogeneous array of genes, which demonstrate epis...

Capillaroscopy 2016: new perspectives in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder of unknown aetiology characterized by early impairment of the microvascular system. Nailfold microangiopathy and decreased peripheral blood perfusion are typical clinical aspects of SSc. The best method to evaluate vascular injury is nailfold videocapillaroscopy, which detects peripheral capillary morphology, and classifies and scores the abnor...

Immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic sclerosis: current views of its pathogenesis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology characterized by severe and often progressive cutaneous and visceral fibrosis, pronounced alterations in the microvasculature, and numerous cellular and humoral immune abnormalities. Clinically, SSc is very heterogeneous, encompassing a spectrum ranging from mild limited forms of skin sclerosis with minimal internal organ in...