12 September 2024
Our newly updated guideline for systemic sclerosis is now available, providing a comprehensive road map for evidence-based, expert management of systemic sclerosis in people of all ages.
Professor Christopher Denton, who led the guideline development, said:
“BSR guidelines are incredibly important for practising rheumatologists, clinicians, patients and all stakeholders with relevance to rheumatic disease. Systemic sclerosis is a severe, complex, multi-system disease, and quite uncommon, so the guideline is particularly important and focuses on management within the structures of the NHS”.
Since the previous guideline in 2016, there has been major progress in management of systemic sclerosis, particularly in the areas of interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, hypertension and digital ulcer management. There are better opportunities to diagnose the disease early, and, importantly, this update provided an opportunity to expand the recommendations to cover systemic sclerosis at all ages, including children and young people.
Dr Clare Pain, Consultant in Paediatric Rheumatology and guideline working group (GWG) member, said:
“These recommendations are really key for children and young people; firstly, because juvenile systemic sclerosis is extremely rare; and, secondly, because the amount of research in juvenile systemic sclerosis is really lacking. These guidelines are really needed to help standardise care across the UK to show us how to position treatments and apply the evidence we have from adults for the paediatric population”.
To accompany the guideline, two figures make up a summary sheet to demonstrate both the overarching management principles and the organ-specific treatment considerations, available as a handy downloadable pdf.
Professor Ernest Choy, Editor in Chief of Rheumatology, commented on the summary sheet:
“The organ-specific way of looking at how best to manage patients is really wonderful and a fantastic help.”
The guideline was developed by members from rheumatology, with adult and paediatric specialists, as well as a wider working group made up of GP, podiatry, pharmacy and respiratory specialists and experts by experience.
The guideline and a lay summary is now available to read on our website.
- Join GWG members, Christopher Denton, Clare Pain, John Pauling and Chief Executive of Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK, Sue Farrington, for a discussion about the key messages to take away from the guideline and what difference it will make to patients, hosted by Ernest Choy, in the latest episode of the Rheumatology Roundtable.
- All BSR guidelines are published in Rheumatology under an ‘open access’ licence and available for free via the BSR website.