Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex rheumatologic autoimmune disease in which inflammation, fibrosis, and vasculopathy share several pathogenic pathways that lead to skin and internal organ damage. Recent findings regarding the participation and interaction of the innate and acquired immune system have led to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and to the identification of new therapeutic targets, many of which have been tested in preclinical and clinical trials with varying results. In this manuscript, we review the state of the art of the pathogenesis of this disease and discuss the main therapeutic targets related to each pathogenic mechanism that have been discovered so far.

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Initial reports suggested that kidney involvement after coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection was uncommon, but this premise appears to be incorrect. Acute kidney injury can occur through various mechanisms and complicate the course of up to 25% of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in our Institution, and of over 50% of those on invasive mechanical ventilation.Mechanisms of injury include direct kidney injury and predominantly tubular, although glomerular injury has been reported, and resulting from severe hypoxic respiratory failure, secondary infection, and exposure to nephrotoxic drugs. The mainstay of treatment remains the prevention of progressive kidney damage and, in some cases, the use of renal replacement therapy.Although the use of blood purification techniques has been proposed as a potential treatment, results to date have not been conclusive. In this manuscript, the mechanisms of kidney injury by COVID-19, risk factors, and the mainstays of treatment are reviewed. (REV INVEST CLIN. [AHEAD OF PRINT]

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Background: A high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been reported in coronavirus disease 2019 patients in critical care units and those undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The introduction of dexamethasone (DXM) as treatment for severe COVID-19 has improved mortality, but its effects in other organs remain under study. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between DXM and AKI in COVID-19. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, we evaluated the incidence of AKI in critically ill COVID-19 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, and the association of DXM treatment with the incidence, severity, and outcomes of AKI. The association between DXM treatment and AKI was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression. The association of the combination of DXM treatment and AKI on mortality was evaluated by Cox-regression analysis. Results: We included 552 patients. AKI was diagnosed in 311 (56%), of which 196 (63%) corresponded to severe (stage 2 or 3) AKI, and 46 (14.8%) received kidney replacement therapy. Two hundred and sixty-seven (48%) patients were treated with DXM. This treatment was associated to lower incidence of AKI (Odds Radio 0.34, 95% Confidence intervals [CI] 0.22-0.52, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, body mass index, laboratory parameters, SOFA score, and vasopressor use. DXM treatment significantly reduced mortality in patients with severe AKI (HR 0.63, 95%CI 0.41-0.96, p = 0.032). Conclusions: The incidence of AKI is high in COVID-19 patients under IMV. DXM treatment is associated with a lower incidence of AKI and a lower mortality in the group with severe AKI. (REV INVEST CLIN. 2023;75(2):76-89