HSS rheumatologist Robert F. Spiera, MD presented new data at the sixth Systemic Sclerosis World E-Congress suggesting the American College of Rheumatology Combined Response Index in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (ACR CRISS) score reflected patient-reported outcomes better than the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS), which assesses skin thickening.

As the principal investigator, Dr. Spiera and researchers analyzed data from the ongoing phase 2 clinical trial evaluating investigational treatment lenabasum’s safety and effectiveness in 42 adults with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSC). Participants were randomly assigned to receive either lenabasum or placebo, plus their stable standard care for 12 weeks. They could then enter the ongoing open-label extension phase, in which all participants were receiving the therapy. The researchers looked at four patient-reported outcomes to assess how patients feel and function: the Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and patient global assessment – both included the ACR CRISS score; the SSc Skin Symptoms Patient-reported Outcome (SSPRO), and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29) score.

Results showed that the ACR CRISS score consistently reflected changes in patient-reported outcomes, and this association was stronger than that observed between the mRSS score and patient-reported outcomes.

Read the full article at Sclerodermanews.com.