Conference paper

Systemic sclerosis - introductory lecture

Dušanka Martinović Kaliterna ; Department for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Clinic for Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia
Mislav Radić ; Department for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Clinic for Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia

Abstract

The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is complex and appears to involve endothelium, epithelium, fibroblasts and immunological mediators, resulting in dysregulated vascular remodelling and ultimately vasculopathy. Endothelial cell injury is an early and probably initiating event, but the precise aethyology remains unclear. Vascular damage and tissue fibrosis are widespread in SSc and largely account for the protean clinical manifestations and substantial morbidity and mortality. Current therapies are primarily immunomodulatory in nature. Effective therapy will require directly targeting the fibrotic process and will necessitate an improved understanding of the roles of individual cell types and their products in the development of fibrosis.

Keywords

vascular damage; vasculopathy; fibroblasts; fibrosis; systemic sclerosis

Hrčak ID:

124630

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/124630

Publication date:

14.10.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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