The power of the EUSTAR cohort: key findings to date and implications for management of systemic sclerosis patients

Abstract

Introduction: The rarity of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its widely heterogeneous presentation and disease course are the main limitations for clinical research. The European Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR) was launchegd in 2004, aiming to unify research efforts in the field of SSc. The central EUSTAR database has grown exponentially over the years, promoting new research and clinical trials, shedding new light on SSc diagnosis, its clinical course and providing new ideas for state-of-the-art therapy.Areas covered: The authors summarized the key findings of the main EUSTAR studies by reviewing PubMed and Web-of-Science databases through July 2020. The authors focused on the very early diagnosis of SSc, the prediction of disease course and mortality, the evaluation of disease activity and quality of life, the general management and therapy.

Expert opinion: The findings elucidated in EUSTAR studies have substantially improved the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to SSc in the last 15 years. Further efforts are warranted to identify early prognostic markers of the disease and stratify patients who may benefit most from vasoactive, immunosuppressive, and/or antifibrotic therapy. This will be particularly important in leading the future of SSc toward precision medicine and to promote more targeted clinical trials.

Keywords: EUSTAR; Systemic sclerosis; disease activity; epidemiology; general management; prognostic factors; recent insights; therapy.