Transition From Systemic Sclerosis to Interstitial Lung Disease: Methodological Considerations.

Fang, Shiying; Ren, Yafei; Shi, Yuhong · J Rheumatol · 2026

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Abstract

We have read with great interest the article by Rodríguez Viera and colleagues<sup>1</sup> employing a systematic review approach to identify soluble mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) that are differentially expressed between patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) and those with SSc alone. The study underscores the central role of pulmonary epithelium-fibroblast interactions in driving the transition from SSc to SSc-ILD.