Endpoints and outcomes for localized scleroderma/morphea: a scoping literature review

Background

Current treatment for localized scleroderma (LS) has been shown to halt disease activity, but little is still known about patient experiences with these treatments, nor is there consensus about optimal measurement strategies for future clinical trials.

Objective

Conduct a scoping review of the literature for the types of outcomes and measures (i.e. clinician-, patient-, and caregiver-reported) utilized in published treatment studies of LS.

Methods

Online databases were searched for articles related to the evaluation of treatment efficacy in LS with a special focus on pediatrics.

Results

Of the 168 studies, the most common outcomes used were cutaneous disease activity and damage measured via clinician-reported assessments. The most frequently cited measure was the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT). Few patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were used.

Limitations

Some studies only vaguely reported the measures utilized, and the review yielded a low number of clinical trials.

Conclusion

In addition to evaluating disease activity with clinician-reported measures, the field could obtain critical knowledge on the patient experience by including high-quality PROMs of symptoms and functioning. More clinical trials using a variety of outcomes and measures are necessary to determine the most suitable course of treatment for LS patients.