EDITORIAL ARTICLE
Vascular complications in systemic sclerosis
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Online publication date: 2012-03-02
Reumatologia 2012;50(1):1-8
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ABSTRACT
Vascular involvement is a permanent feature, and frequently a major clinical problem in patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Arterial pulmonary hypertension, which develops as a result of proliferative angiopathy of pulmonary arteries, is one of leading causes of mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis. Development of digital ulcers results in significant impairment of health-related quality of life. The progress that has recently been made in the understanding of pathogenesis of scleroderma-related vasculopathy led to the development of new therapies. This article discusses current management of pulmonary hypertension and digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis (Fig. 1, Tables I, II).
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