Immunosuppression use in early systemic sclerosis may be increasing over time.

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Immunology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis treatment often involves immunosuppression for skin, lung, and joint/muscle disease.
• Investigating trends in immunosuppressive agent use in early systemic sclerosis is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patterns and trends in immunosuppressive drug use in early systemic sclerosis.
• To determine changes in preferred immunosuppressive agents, timing, and combinations over the past decade.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 397 Canadian Scleroderma Research Group database patients with early systemic sclerosis.
• Utilized bivariate, chi-square, ANOVA, and adjusted regression analyses for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide were common immunosuppressants.
• Post-2007, immunosuppressants were prescribed more frequently and earlier for diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
• Methotrexate use increased, and mycophenolate mofetil gained favor over cyclophosphamide.

Conclusions:

• A trend towards earlier and more frequent immunosuppressant use in diffuse systemic sclerosis was observed.
• Autoantibody status consistently predicted immunosuppressive therapy initiation.
• Methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil are increasingly preferred over cyclophosphamide.