Steroid hormones in systemic sclerosis: associations with disease characteristics and modifications during scleroderma renal crisis.

This article focuses on the investigation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and glucocorticoid (GC) hormones in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The study found that SSc patients exhibit slightly lower aldosterone levels (within normal range), similar renin levels, and elevated corticosterone compared to healthy controls, with several RAAS hormone levels associated with more severe disease features such as lung and skin fibrosis, heart and pulmonary vascular involvement, and inflammation. Additionally, SSc patients showed higher serum cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, and 18-hydroxycortisol levels but lower cortisone levels than controls. In five patients assessed before and during scleroderma renal crisis (SRC), RAAS hormone levels varied but consistently included normal or increased aldosterone and elevated renin levels. These findings suggest dysregulation of RAAS and GC hormonal systems may contribute to SSc pathogenesis, particularly in severe disease and SRC, warranting further research.