Quantitating skin fibrosis: innovative strategies and their clinical implications

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2014 Mar;16(3):404. doi: 10.1007/s11926-013-0404-5.

Abstract

Skin fibrosis is the final outcome of a variety of pathologic processes ranging from aberrant wound healing (keloids) to environmentally induced conditions (nephrogenic systemic fibrosis) to idiopathic or autoimmune conditions (morphea and systemic sclerosis). The quantitative assessment of skin fibrosis has been a major burden of clinical and biomarker research in the field for the past three decades. Here, we review the efforts that reached some sort of validation and the ones we envisage have the potential for further development focusing on systemic sclerosis as prototype of fibrotic disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques / methods
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Physical Examination / methods
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / diagnosis*
  • Skin / diagnostic imaging
  • Skin / pathology*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods

Substances

  • Biomarkers