Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42329448›Full record

SynthesisRheumatology international2026

Pruritus associated with systemic sclerosis: a systematic review of treatment-based clinical trials.

Kiana Mortezaei, Rishika Pasula, Meryem Nursoy, Amit Syal, Ioannis Panayiotou, Geeta Kumari, Andreas Chatzitoffis, Pavle Milutinovic, Olajumoke O Fadugba, Chris T Derk

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Rheumatology international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kiana MortezaeiDrexel College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Rishika PasulaDrexel College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4711-5453
Meryem NursoyHull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7164-9592
Amit SyalSidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2514-5316
Ioannis PanayiotouSchool of Medicine, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Geeta KumariDepartment of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7221-5807
Andreas ChatzitoffisDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6635-9564
Pavle MilutinovicDivision of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Olajumoke O FadugbaDivision of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3835-697X
Chris T DerkDivision of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Chris.Derk@uphs.upenn.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7786-9714

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the latest research on treatments for itch (pruritus) in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), identify areas where information is lacking, and propose suggestions for future studies.A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed and Scopus in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify studies evaluating therapeutic interventions for pruritus in SSc. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series comprising a minimum of three patients. Data extraction encompassed study design, patient demographics, pruritus assessment instruments including validated and non-validated measures, and clinical outcomes. Studies were excluded if they concerned localized scleroderma, irrelevant populations, case reports, systematic reviews, lacking relevant outcome data, or incomplete trials. Ten studies met criteria, evaluating immunomodulatory agents, mast cell stabilizers, opioid receptor antagonist, and lysophosphatidic acid receptor antagonists. Pruritus assessment varied and was often secondary to fibrosis outcomes. Oral lenabasum improved pruritus in a phase II trial; low-dose opioid receptor modulators and rituximab also showed qualitative improvement. Pruritus is a frequently overlooked yet clinically significant symptom in systemic sclerosis (SSc) that negatively impacts patients' quality of life. Existing evidence regarding effective therapeutic options remains limited. Future research should prioritize pruritus as a predefined outcome and utilize validated assessment instruments to inform treatment strategies and enhance patient quality of life.

Indexed as

AntipruriticsPruritusScleroderma, SystemicHumansQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeAntipruriticsDiffuse cutaneous sclerodermaItchLimited cutaneous sclerodermaNaltrexoneOutcome assessmentPruritusQuality of lifeRituximabSclerodermaSystemic sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID42329448
PMCPMC13287110

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.