Interdisziplinäre Therapieansätze der systemischen Sklerose

Further developments in drug and nondrug therapies for systemic sclerosis often pose a major challenge in practice due to the low prevalence and heterogeneity of the disease.

Summary of currently available therapy options including scientific evidence, practical recommendations, and current guidelines.

Evaluation of studies, meta-analyses, reviews, and expert recommendations.

An update of the European guideline on pharmacological therapies is in preparation. In addition to methotrexate and cyclophosphamide, the updated guideline now also lists rituximab, mycophenolate, nintedanib, and tocilizumab for the treatment of interstitial lung disease and skin fibrosis. Several nonpharmacological therapies showed positive effects on various symptoms of systemic sclerosis. This included, in particular, an improvement in function, a reduction in pain, and an increase in quality of life.

The increasing body of knowledge regarding efficacy and availability of therapy options enables individualized patient treatment that depends on the disease phenotype.