Welcome to the 2009 Q1 Scleroderma QuERI Quarterly Update,
Please select a category below or scroll down to read the newsletter.
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The recommended time frame for the prescheduled follow up visits is: 6 months (5-7 months); 1 year (10-14 months); 2 years (22-26 months); 3 years (33-39 months)
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It is left to the site investigator’s discretion to consider the out of range data as pertaining to a 1, 2 or 3 year follow up and report it under the applicable follow up visit section of the eCRF.
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All test data ( Echo, PFTs, HRCT, RHC, contingent testing ) not available at the current follow up visit are to be reported at the next follow up visit.
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Medication updates must be reported at each follow up visit. Please update the PAH indication for all medication if not done so already.
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Patients with no data available for a certain follow up visit type may continue in the study with the rest of the pre-scheduled follow up visits.
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The”Early Termination” page is to be completed for patients early discontinued from the study and the reason for discontinuation is to be reported.
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Once a patient has been confirmed with PAH based on the Right Heart Catheterization (RHC) results, please complete the “Final Classification” page.
14 were treated with endothelin receptor antagonists and 8 were receiving chronic PDE-5 inhibitors although only 5 were treated for “PAH indication.” ILD was confirmed by PFT and HRCT in 23 (96%) of 24 patients receiving agents of putative benefit including cyclophosphamide (6) and mycophenolate mofetil (18).
Conclusions: This preliminary assessment suggests that certain basic essential diagnostic tests, such as right heart catheterization for PAH, continue to be underutilized. The SSc QuERI offers stricter guidelines, adherence to which could optimize management of these high-risk patients.