NCT05482594

Brief Summary

This project aims to study systemic sclerosis and find a serum marker of its cutaneous involvement. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare immune disease that is part of connectivitis and is characterized by fibrosis and vasculopathy. Multiple visceral lesions involving these two processes make up the severity of this disease. Its dermatological involvement is a fundamental clinical element. Systemic sclerosis is mainly divided into two subtypes, depending on the extent of dermatological involvement: limited and diffuse systemic sclerosis. These also differ in certain autoantibody profiles and clinical features. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to determine certain criteria, markers, making it possible to distinguish at an early stage the presence of limited or diffuse systemic sclerosis. The latter being characterized by more severe organic and cutaneous involvement and excess mortality. This would allow for more aggressive management from the outset at an early onset of the disease. In general, it is known that this pathology is characterized by dysfunction of endothelial cells (EC) and fibroblasts as well as autoimmunity. Many mediators contribute to the fibroblast activation observed in SSc. However, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is considered to be the central regulatory factor of fibrosis processes. It is also known that endothelial cells interact with mast cells through the production of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) to induce their proliferation and differentiation. The damaged skin tissues in systemic sclerosis are infiltrated in particular by mast cell cells which produce TGFβ. The team of Kihira et al (1998) demonstrated the presence of a high level of SCF in the serum of patients with systemic sclerosis. Few studies explore this possible production pathway of TGFβ in systemic sclerosis via SCF assay. This study will allow the investigators to:

  • study this possible route of fibrosis through the dosage of SCF in the serum of patients suffering from systemic sclerosis
  • describe SCF as a possible biomarker of skin involvement by hypothesizing that the dosage of SCF will be higher in patients with diffuse scleroderma compared to those with limited scleroderma

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
65

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2022

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 11, 2022

Completed
7 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 29, 2022

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 1, 2022

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 31, 2023

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 31, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

August 1, 2022

Status Verified

July 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

1.1 years

First QC Date

July 29, 2022

Last Update Submit

July 29, 2022

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Stem Cell Factor

    Stem Cell Factor blood levels

    1 year

  • Videocapillaroscopy imaging report

    Videocapillaroscopy is a non-invasive and safe method for the morphological examination and the analysis of abnormalities of the microcirculation linked in particular to systemic scleroderma.

    1 year

Study Arms (2)

Systemic sclerosis

Patients followed regularly at CHU Brugmann in rheumatology/Dermatology for limited or diffuse systemic sclerosis in accordance with the ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria.

Diagnostic Test: ELISADiagnostic Test: Videocapillaroscopy

Control

Control patients recruited among patients followed for mechanical pathology in rheumatology.

Diagnostic Test: ELISADiagnostic Test: Videocapillaroscopy

Interventions

ELISADIAGNOSTIC_TEST

During routine blood sampling, serum after centrifugation will be stored and frozen at -80°C in the immunology laboratory in order to carry out analyzes by the ELISA method to measure the levels of SCF.

ControlSystemic sclerosis
VideocapillaroscopyDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Videocapillaroscopy is a non-invasive and safe method for the morphological examination and the analysis of abnormalities of the microcirculation linked in particular to systemic scleroderma. Here it is a digital capillaroscopy used routinely at the CHU Brugmann, in the follow-up of patients and whose results will be collected in this study.

ControlSystemic sclerosis

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

Patients followed regularly at CHU Brugmann in Rheumatology/Dermatology for limited or diffuse systemic sclerosis in accordance with the ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria.

You may qualify if:

  • Patients followed regularly at CHU Brugmann in Rheumatology/Dermatology for limited or diffuse systemic sclerosis in accordance with the ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria.
  • Control patients recruited among patients followed for mechanical pathology in rheumatology

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients with comorbidities of hematological diseases, asthma or severe chronic renal failure (GFR \< 30)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

CHU Brugmann

Brussels, 1020, Belgium

RECRUITING

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITHOUT DNA

Blood sample

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Scleroderma, Systemic

Interventions

Microscopic Angioscopy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Connective Tissue DiseasesSkin and Connective Tissue DiseasesSkin Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Intravital MicroscopyMicroscopyDiagnostic ImagingDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisDiagnostic Techniques, CardiovascularInvestigative Techniques

Study Officials

  • WEYNAND Marjolaine

    CHU Brugmann

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Head of Rhumatology Department

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 29, 2022

First Posted

August 1, 2022

Study Start

January 11, 2022

Primary Completion

January 31, 2023

Study Completion

January 31, 2023

Last Updated

August 1, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations