Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Scleroderma Lung Fibrosis and Biologic Drugs

Paola Caramaschi, Domenico Biasi, Sara Pieropan, Cinzia Scambi and Silvano Adami

Biologic agents have revolutionized the management of some inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathies and Crohn’s disease; the selective inhibition of mediators involved in systemic chronic processes have allowed to expand the knowledge among the complex pathogenic pathways that are involved in inflammation and damage. The off-label use of biologic drugs is expanding.

This review highlights the theoretical basis that may support the use of biologic drugs in the treatment of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), a disabling and sometimes devastating disease whose treatment remains largely unsatisfactory. Some progresses have been made concerning the vascular complications of the disease, but the skin and visceral fibrosis, which is the hallmark of the disease, is still orphan of effective therapy. Moreover the results of the limited clinical experience about biologic agent administration in SSc and SSc-interstitial lung disease are presented.