Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare and severe autoimmune disease.In recent years, some important advances have been made in morbidity, diagnosis and treatment strategies.
In the aspect of morbidity mechanism, the research is deepening. In the past, it was believed that systemic sclerosis was mainly caused by the interaction of three factors: abnormal immune system, vascular injury and fibroblast activation. Now it is found that genetic and environmental factors also play a key role in the occurrence and development of diseases. Some specific genetic variants have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to systemic sclerosis, for example, certain genes may affect the regulation of the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to morbidity. In terms of environmental factors, chemicals, viral infections and trauma may act as triggers to activate immune responses and pathological processes in vivo. In addition, epigenetic changes have been increasingly concerned, which can affect gene expression and lead to disease-related cell dysfunction.
In terms of
diagnostic methods, with the continuous progress of technology, more accurate and sensitive diagnostic methods are emerging. In addition to traditional clinical signs and symptoms evaluation and serological examination, imaging techniques such as high-resolution ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis. These techniques can more clearly observe the pathological changes of skin and internal organs, which is helpful for early diagnosis and disease assessment. For example, ultrasound can detect the thickness and fibrosis of the skin, as well as the blood flow of blood vessels, while magnetic resonance imaging can make a detailed assessment of the lesions of internal organs such as the lungs and the heart.
In terms of
treatment strategies, a variety of new treatment methods are being explored and developed. Drug therapy is still the main means of treatment. Traditional drugs such as glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants can control the disease to a certain extent, but the side effects are greater. In recent years, some new drugs, such as targeted therapy drugs and biological agents, have been gradually applied in clinical practice. For example, targeted drugs targeting specific cytokines or signaling pathways can more precisely inhibit immune responses and fibrosis processes. In addition, stem cell therapy has also become a research hotspot. Mesenchymal stem cells have the functions of immune regulation, anti-fibrosis and promoting tissue repair. A number of clinical studies have shown that stem cell therapy can improve skin sclerosis and visceral function in patients with systemic sclerosis.
In addition, gene therapy has also brought new hope for the treatment of systemic sclerosis. Scientists are studying gene editing technology to correct genetic defects in patients, or to restore the function of cells by introducing normal genes. Although this technology is still in the experimental stage, it provides new ideas for future treatment.
In conclusion, the study of systemic sclerosis has made remarkable progress in recent years, which provides more options and hope for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. However, systemic sclerosis is still a disease that is difficult to cure, and further study of its morbidity mechanism is needed in the future to develop more effective treatment methods to improve the quality of life and survival of patients.
