Clinical Trials

SUMMARY OF CURRENT AND PLANNED CLINICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS:

1. Oral treprostinil for treatment of scleroderma digital ulcers – A multicenter trial supported by United Therapeutics, Inc.
2. Mycophenolate versus cyclophosphamide in the treatment of scleroderma lung disease – Funded by the NIH.
3. IVIg for active scleromyxedema – A trial to investigate mechanism of disease.
4. Specialized Centers of Clinically-Oriented Research (SCCOR) – NIH supported Center grant investigating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Scleroderma.
5. Biomarkers of vascular disease in Scleroderma – K23 award for Dr. Laura Hummers.
6. The Natural History of Pulmonary Hypertension (PAH) in Scleroderma in collaboration with Dr. Virginia Steen.
7. EUSTAR – Development of a Scleroderma Activity Score, an international effort supported by EUSTAR.
8. Novel treatments for other aspects of scleroderma are under investigation.
9. T Cell response in Scleroderma Lung Disease
10. Cancer antigens propagate an immune response and activate the disease process in scleroderma
11. Use of ACE inhibitors prior to the onset of scleroderma renal crisis associated with worse outcome
12. Kidney autoantigens propagate an immune response and activate the disease process in scleroderma
13. Determination of skin collagen turnover and circulating immune cell proliferation survival profiles in scleroderma patients
14. Severe calcinosis and treatment with sodium thiosulfate