Systemic sclerosis: one year in review 2026

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, chronic connective tissue disease characterised by a complex and not yet fully understood pathophysiology, leading to a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Despite important advances over recent years in elucidating disease mechanisms, improving early recognition, and expanding therapeutic options, SSc continues to represent a major clinical challenge due to its heterogeneity and unpredictable course.Ongoing research efforts are essential to better define disease subsets, identify prognostic markers, and refine treatment strategies. In this context, this annual review provides a critical overview of the most relevant studies published in 2025, with a focus on advances in pathogenesis, organ involvement, therapeutic approaches, and patient outcomes in systemic sclerosis.