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Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a treatment with low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) and low-dose prednisone in early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Methods: Patients with dcSSc and a disease duration <24 months consecutively admitted to a tertiary centre underwent a prospective 1-year study. They were treated with i.v. CYC 500 mg/pulses, 10 mg prednisone equivalent, and supportive therapy. Modified Rodnan skin score (mRss), Health Assessment Questionnaire – Disability Index (HAQ-DI), forced vital capacity (FVC), and diffusing lung capacity for CO (DLCO) were assessed as outcome measures. In addition, the nine Medsger severity scale scores were evaluated. Results: mRss and DLCO significantly improved at both 6 (p = 0.002 and 0.012, respectively) and 12 months (p = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). HAQ-DI showed a nearly significant reduction at 12 months (p = 0.06). Medsger's severity scores also improved for general condition (p = 0.001), peripheral vascular (p = 0.05), skin (p = 0.02), joint/tendon (p = 0.001), muscle (p = 0.05), and lung (p = 0.02). No treatment interruption was needed. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests a role for low-dose i.v. CYC in the treatment of early dcSSc. Controlled studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perinatal histories of 27 newborn infants with NEC were compared to those of 54 infants of equivalent birth weight who did not have NEC during an 8-year study period to see if possible predisposing factors were independent of the confounding effect of birth weight. No differences were observed in gestational age, degree of intrauterine growth retardation, premature rupture of membranes, perinatal asphyxia, skin temperature at admission, haematocrit, presence or absence of respiratory distress syndrome, umbilical catheter placement, start and type of feeding or presence of positive blood cultures. Prematurity is the greatest risk factor predisposing to the development of NEC and the perinatal problems which precede the onset of NEC are common among all premature infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]