Scleroderma - Medications

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Highlights	Prognosis	Treatment for Lung Complications
Introduction	Treatment	Treatment for Gastrointestinal Problems
Risk Factors	Medications	Resources
Symptoms and Complications	Other Treatments	References
Causes	Treatment for Raynaud's Phenomenon	References
Diagnosis	Treatment for Skin Thickening

Other drugs used to suppress the immune system may be useful in specific cases. They include D-penicillamine (which may be useful for skin symptoms), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), corticosteroids, cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), and chlorambucil (Leukeran). All of these drugs have potentially severe side effects.

In small recent studies, imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) has shown potential in the treatment of scleroderma. This anticancer drug inhibits the pathway that leads to fibrosis. Several larger clinical trials are currently studying this drug's potential as an actual treatment for the disease, instead of treating just its symptoms.

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Review Date: 01/04/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).