[Current treatment of systemic sclerosis. Part II. Vascular and antifibrotic treatment]

Microvascular abnormalities and fibrosis are important targets of therapy in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, sartans, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and serotonin re-uptake blockers are used for Raynaud's phenomenon. Intravenous prostanoids (alprostadil, iloprost, epoprostenol, treprostinil) and endothelin receptor antagonists (bosentan, sitaxsentan, ambrisentan) show efficacy in treatment of pulmonary hypertension and distal ischemia. Successful treatment of digital ulcers secondary to systemic sclerosis was possible with sildenafil and bosentan. A platelet gel is currently in clinical trials for scleroderma-related digital ulcers. Several drugs, which directly reduce excessive production of collagens and other connective tissue proteins have been applied in systemic sclerosis. These include interferon gamma, d-penicillamine, kolchichicine, calcitriol, and imanitib. However, so far, strategies to control fibrosis by directly reducing excessive connective tissue production have been disappointing in controlled studies.