Melsens, K., De Keyser, F., Decuman, S., Brusselle, G., De Pauw, M., Deschepper, E., De Wilde, K., Elewaut, D., Piette, Y., Vandecasteele, E., & Smith, V. (2016). Assessment of sensitivity to change of the European Scleroderma Study Group activity index. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 34, 148-151.

@article{c887b017c36e4292ad60b1c52af62f88,
title = "Assessment of sensitivity to change of the European Scleroderma Study Group activity index",
abstract = "Objective. The European Scleroderma Study Group (EScSG) activity index meets nearly all the OMERACT-standards of truth, discrimination and feasibility. The sensitivity to change remains to be attested. This study assesses sensitivity to change of the EScSG activity index in patients with early and severe diffuse cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis (dcSSc) treated with rituximab. Methods. 12-months follow-up (open-label study) of 14 consecutive patients with early dcSSc. Patients received an infusion of two times 1000mg rituximab at month 0 and 6, together with 100mg methylprednisolone. Clinical read outs (modified Rodnan skin score [mRSS], lung function and echocardiography) and EScSG activity index were performed at month 0, 3, 6 and 12. Mixed models analyses (MMA) were used to evaluate changes in parameters over time. Results. There was a clinically significant change in skin score with a mean (SD) mRSS of 24.8 (4.44) at baseline and 10.4 (3.12) at month 12 (MMA p",
keywords = "Rituximab, Sensitivity to change, Systemic sclerosis, Validity",
author = "Karin Melsens and {De Keyser}, Filip and Saskia Decuman and Guy Brusselle and {De Pauw}, Michel and Ellen Deschepper and {De Wilde}, Katelijne and Dirk Elewaut and Yves Piette and Els Vandecasteele and Vanessa Smith",
year = "2016",
language = "English",
volume = "34",
pages = "148--151",
journal = "Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology",
issn = "1593-098X",
}