Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Systemic Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic disorder encompassing inflammatory, vascular, and fibrotic processes. SSc is characterized by thickening of the skin (scleroderma) and distinctive involvement of multiple organs, most notably the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, heart, and kidneys [1,2]. While some patients experience an indolent course, others will suffer from devastating disease progression [3]. Immunosuppressive drugs are the backbone of treatment for patients with diffuse skin involvement or severe organ dysfunction [4].

Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - February 3, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Roni Shouval, Nadav Furie, Pia Raanani, Arnon Nagler, Anat Gafter-Gvili Source Type: research