TREATMENT OF SCLERODERMA WITH ORAL 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D-3 - EVALUATION OF SKIN INVOLVEMENT USING NONINVASIVE TECHNIQUES RESULTS OF AN OPEN PROSPECTIVE TRIAL

1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25 (OH)(2) D-3) causes dose-dependent inhibition of fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis and has numero us immunoregulatory activities. We assessed the effects of oral 1,25 ( OH)(2) D-3 in the treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis (SS). Eleven patients with SS entered an open prospective study. Oral 1,25 ( OH)(2) D-3 was given at a mean dose of 1.75 mu g/day. The effects of t he treatment were evaluated using clinical examination and physical me asurements. After the treatment period (6 months to 3 years), a signif icant improvement, as compared with baseline values, was observed. No serious side-effects were observed. These results suggest that high-do se 1,25 (OH)(2) D-3 may be a useful therapeutic agent for scleroderma.