Our Research

Scleroderma research
The causes of scleroderma are unknown. Scientists and medical investigators work to understand the condition. We support a coordinated approach to research into the cause and treatment of scleroderma. We do this through our research program funded by member states, corporate and individual sponsors. You can find a list of ASIG’s most notable publications between 2008-2020 here.
The Australian Scleroderma Interest Group and database: 10 years of screening to save lives
As 2017 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG), we want to raise awareness of the significant morbidity and mortality associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a chronic multisystem autoimmune disorder characterised by vasculopathy and fibrosis, with a particular focus on SSc-related pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
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Nikpour M, Proudman S, Morrisroe K, Sahhar J.M., Stevens W
Quantifying the direct public health care cost of systemic sclerosis
Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by skin and internal organ fibrosis. It is classified into limited (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc)disease subtypes based on the extent of skin involvement. Worldwide prevalence of SSc varies from 7/million to 489/million, with the reported prevalence in Australia being one of the highest.
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Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Sahhar J, Ngian G-S, Rabusa C, Ferdowsi N, Hill C, Proudman S, Nikpour M
Epidemiology and disease characteristics of systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from a real-life screening programme.
Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Annual screening with echocardiogram (ECHO) is recommended. We present the methodological aspects of a PAH screening programme in a large Australian SSc cohort, the epidemiology of SSc-PAH in this cohort, and an evaluation of factors influencing physician adherence to PAH screening guidelines.
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Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Sahhar J, Rabusa C, Nikpour M, Proudman S, the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG)
Determinants of unemployment amongst Australian systemic sclerosis patients: results from a multicentre cohort study
Introduction: The ability to work is based on multiple factors, which can be summarised as the worker’s capacity to meet the physical and mental demands of a particular job. The ability to work is an important determinant of sustained employability (1) and is correlated with increased productivity and participation in the labour market (1).
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Morrisroe K, Huq M, Stevens W, Rabusa C, Proudman S.M., Nikpour M, and the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG)
Determinants of health-related quality of life in a multinational systemic sclerosis inception cohort
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease characterised by vasculopathy and excessive collagen production leading to skin and internal organ fibrosis (1). It is commonly classified into two distinct subtypes based on the degree of skin fibrosis, namely limited (lcSSc) and diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) subsets.
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Morrisroe K, Hudson M, Baron M, de Vries-Bouwstra J, Carreira P.E., Wuttge D.M., Wang M., Frech T.M., Stevens W., Proudman S.M., Nikpour M for the International Systemic Sclerosis Inception Cohort (INSYNC) collaboration
A systematic review of the epidemiology, disease characteristics and management of systemic sclerosis in Australian adults
Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare but potentially devastating connective tissue disease (CTD) with no cure.1Worldwide prevalence varies with estimates ranging from 7/million to 489/million population, with the highest prevalence reported in the USA (276/million population in 1990) and in Australia (233/million population in 1999).
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Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Proudman S, Nikpour M
Early Mortality in a Multinational Systemic Sclerosis Inception Cohort
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by immuno-logic abnormalities, microvascular dysfunction, and tissue fibrosis (1–4), with potential involvement of vital organs including the heart and lungs, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality.
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Hao Y, Hudson M, Baron M, Carreira P, Stevens W , Rabusa C, Tatibouet S, Carmona L, E. Joven B, Huq M, Proudman S, Nikpour M, The Canadian Scleroderma Research Group, and the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group

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