Effects of Probiotics on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and on the Immune System in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease with unknown etiology, which affects especially the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart and kidneys. Immunological abnormalities characterized by innate and acquired immune disturbances are associated with the disease development. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of probiotics in gastrointestinal symptoms, nutritional status and innate and acquired immune responses, by means of the evaluation of IgA, Treg and Th1, Th2, and Th17 T helper subtypes levels in patients with SSc. In addition the levels of CD4+ T helper Th1, Th2 and Th17 subtypes and Treg levels will be compared to a healthy control group.