Optical Coherence Tomography: The first Quantitative Imaging Biomarker for Scleroderma
19 Mar 2013 – Using the VivoSight OCT scanner, manufactured in the UK by Michelson Diagnostics Ltd, scientists at the Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds have developed the first quantitative imaging biomarker for skin involvement in Scleroderma.
Scleroderma or Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a serious type of autoimmune disorder affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people. It is a progressive disease that involves skin and internal organs by determining fibrosis, vasculopathy and immune system activation.
The extent and severity of skin fibrosis is an important prognostic indicator of Scleroderma and often a primary endpoint in clinical trials to assess treatment efficacy. Skin fibrosis is currently assessed using a clinical semi-quantitative method called “modified Rodnan skin score”, based on clinical palpation in 17 body areas using a 0 to 3 scale.
