New imaging technology improves scleroderma diagnosis and monitoring

Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the excessive production of collagen, which leads to the hardening and thickening of the skin and can affect internal organs such as the lungs, heart, and kidneys. Common symptoms include Raynaud’s phenomenon, where fingers change color in response to cold or emotion, and difficulties swallowing.

Researchers at Boston University have developed a new non-contact imaging technique called spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) to improve the assessment of the disease. For decades, clinicians have relied on manual skin pinching to measure thickness, a subjective method that can lead to inconsistent scoring.

By shining patterns of harmless light on the skin and measuring the reflection, SFDI can track skin thickness and fibrosis. The technology has demonstrated the ability to identify subtle skin changes that may not be apparent during standard clinical examinations and has shown correlation with collagen buildup in skin biopsies.