Hoffmann-Vold AM, Allanore Y, Alves M, et al. - In this study, overall disease course, progression patterns, and risk factors predictive for progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) were distinguished in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated ILD (SSc-ILD), applying data from the European Scleroderma Trials And Research database over long-term follow-up. Researchers enrolled a sum of 826 patients with SSc-ILD. The data demonstrated that SSc-ILD exhibits a heterogeneous and variable disease course, and thus monitoring all patients closely is important. The findings reveal that a novel treatment concept, with treatment initiation, before FVC decline occurs, should intend for prevention of progression to avoid irreversible organ damage.