Thermography in systemic sclerosis patients and other rheumatic diseases: Diagnosis, disease activity assessment, and therapeutic monitoring.

Abstract

The recent advancement of knowledge and management strategies of patients with autoimmune conditions such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), inflammatory arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) achieved during the last years, lead to the clear-cut improvement of patients' quality of life and reduced long-term disability [1–5]. Nowadays, new imaging techniques in autoimmune-rheumatic diseases are expanding the possibilities to achieve an early diagnosis, an appropriate follow-up, evaluation of disease activity, monitoring, and response to treatment in the affected patients. Among these techniques, infrared thermography represents a promising tool in order to assess vascular and joint involvement in autoimmune patients