Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Dec 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialDigital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: prevention by treatment with bosentan, an oral endothelin receptor antagonist.
Recurrent digital ulcers are a manifestation of vascular disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) and lead to pain, impaired function, and tissue loss. We investigated whether treatment with the endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan, decreased the development of new digital ulcers in patients with SSc. ⋯ Endothelins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular disease in patients with SSc. Treatment with the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan may be effective in preventing new digital ulcers and improving hand function in patients with SSc.