Sex hormones and sex hormone-targeting therapies in systemic sclerosis: A systematic literature review

Background. It has been known that acupuncture treatment relieves gynecological disorders such as menopause, ovarian dysfunction, and dysmenorrhea. Sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and gonadotropins, are related to the women disease. However, regulative effect of acupuncture on sex hormones has not been fully identified. Methods. Acupuncture articles including analysis of sex hormones were searched in electronic databases from inception to June 2018. The methodological quality was assessed using modified CAMRADES tool. A total of 23 articles were selected and analyzed. Results. In the results, overall studies showed that acupuncture increases estrogen, especially estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and other hormones. Estradiol level was increased in most of studies except 3 studies which resulted in decreased level or not meaningful change. Two studies showed increase of FSH and LH whereas it was decreased in other studies. Other hormones were mostly increased by acupuncture. Conclusion. This study possibly indicates that acupuncture changes sex hormone in various gynecological conditions in women.

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Defining Skin Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis: Systematic Literature Review and Proposed World Scleroderma Foundation (WSF) Definition

Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders ◽

10.5301/jsrd.5000236 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 115-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Yossra Atef Suliman ◽

Cosimo Bruni ◽

Sindhu R. Johnson ◽

Emanuela Praino ◽

Mohamed Alemam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Sclerosis ◽

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Skin Ulcers

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Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in Systemic Sclerosis–related Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Literature Review

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.190296 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 888-895 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Vanessa Smith ◽

Amber Vanhaecke ◽

Els Vandecasteele ◽

Miguel Guerra ◽

Sabrina Paolino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Sclerosis ◽

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽

Literature Review ◽

Arterial Hypertension ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Capillary Density ◽

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy ◽

Pulmonary Arterial ◽

Current Screening

Objective.Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of the leading causes of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Current screening algorithms are hampered by low positive predictive values. Outcome measures that could add to performance characteristics would be welcome. We aim to evaluate the role of nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) using standardized definitions, in SSc-related PAH (SSc-PAH).Methods.A systematic review to identify original research papers documenting an association between NVC and right heart catheterization-defined SSc-PAH was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Subsequently, NVC characteristics were subdivided into quantitative (capillary density, dimension, morphology, and hemorrhages), semiquantitative, and qualitative assessment (NVC pattern), according to the definitions of the European League Against Rheumatism Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases.Results.The systematic search identified 316 unique search results, of which 5 were included in the final qualitative analysis. The occurrence of incident SSc-PAH unequivocally associated in 2 longitudinal studies with progressive capillary loss (p = 0.04 and p = 0.033) and the progression to a severe (active/late) NVC pattern (p = 0.05/0.01 and HR = 5.12, 95% CI 1.23–21.27). In 3 cross-sectional studies, SSc-PAH was found to be unequivocally inversely associated with capillary density (p = 0.001 and p < 0.05) and associated with the presence of a severe NVC pattern (p = 0.03 and p < 0.05).Conclusion.This is the first systematic literature review investigating the role of NVC in SSc-PAH using standardized description, to our knowledge. Unequivocal associations were found between (incident) SSc-PAH and capillary density and NVC pattern. Integration of NVC into current screening algorithms to boost their performance may be a future step.

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