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An impaired blood vessel dilation response may underlie the circulatory abnormalities of systemic sclerosis (SSc). This connective tissue disease causes changes in small blood vessels and progressive organ damage. Researchers tested blood flow and vasodilatory response in the fingers of 11 patients with systemic sclerosis and 16 healthy volunteers. Vessel dilation after blood flow restriction was significantly less in SSc patients, and their blood vessels were less responsive to the vasodilating drugs acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside.