Systemic sclerosis is a disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis, lacking specific therapeutic drugs and having a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and intervention of the disease is of significant value in improving patient prognosis. This article provides a systematic review of the early diagnosis and treatment of systemic sclerosis, including early symptom recognition, laboratory testing, and drug intervention. It will provide a reference for the prevention of this disease.
Humans ; Scleroderma, Systemic/prevention & control*

Systemic sclerosis is a disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis, lacking specific therapeutic drugs and having a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and intervention of the disease is of significant value in improving patient prognosis. This article provides a systematic review of the early diagnosis and treatment of systemic sclerosis, including early symptom recognition, laboratory testing, and drug intervention. It will provide a reference for the prevention of this disease.
Humans ; Scleroderma, Systemic/prevention & control*

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of artemether and dihydroarteannuin on the mouse model of scleroderma.

METHODSixty mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: PBS control group, model group, menstruum group (20% Tween-80, 0.4%CMC-Na), positive medicine group (penicillamine 200 mg kg(-1)), low-dose artemether group (5 mg kg(-1)), high-dose artemether group (20 mg kg(-1)), low-dose dihydroarteannuin group (5 mg kg(-1)), high-dose dihydroarteannuin group (25 mg kg(-1)). We have established a mouse model for scleroderma in Balb/c mice by subcutaneous injections of bleomycin 0.1 mL per day (200 mg L(-1) BLM) for 3 weeks. Meanwhile, the administration lasted for 4 weeks. The back skin was removed in the next day after the final administration. Treated skins and lungs were harvested and analyzed for histological sclerosis. The thickness of the skin and fibrosis degree of derma were observed and made an analysis of the contents of collagen and hydroxyproline.

RESULTCompared with the model groups, the high-dose groups markedly inhibited the thickness of derma (P<0.001), furthermore, the contents of collagen and hydroxyproline in the skin were also significantly reduced (P<0.05). Other groups of mice showed improvement on scleroderma.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that administration of artemether or dihydroarteannuin may be an effective approach in preventing systemic sclerosis.

Animals ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Female ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Sesquiterpenes ; pharmacology ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology