Navigating evidence-based recommendations for the management of systemic sclerosis

In the past 3 years key recommendations for the management of systemic sclerosis (SSc) have been published, including updated EULAR recommendations and British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) guidelines. These recommendations are generally aligned but also reflect differences in the methodology and scope of the responsible organizations. For both EULAR and BSR, the methodology is robust and aligns with recommendations and guidelines developed for other rheumatic conditions and produced by other specialist societies. Advances in treatment and a growing evidence base for management of interstitial lung disease (ILD), a frequent complication of SSc, have informed additional relevant recommendations that include SSc-ILD. Some of these cover a broad range of ILDs that occur across systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including those developed by the ACR-American College of Chest Physicians and the 2025 European Respiratory Society-EULAR clinical-practice guidelines. The American Thoracic Society has also developed recommendations for SSc-ILD. Taken together, a comparison of these published guidelines provides an overview of best practice evidence-based management that is supported by expert opinion and relevant stakeholders. By considering the overlap and similarity in recommendations and highlighting differences in approach and scope, this article helps readers to navigate an evolving treatment landscape of SSc.