Cardiac Safe Transplants for Systemic Sclerosis

The autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant used in this research study is an investigational procedure that uses cyclophosphamide and fludarabine (chemotherapy), rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) (a protein that kills the immune cells that are thought to be causing your disease), and rituximab (a biologic drug that targets B cells of your immune system). After use of these treatments, the patient will receive their own previously collected blood stem cells (autologous stem cell transplant). The ability of these experimental treatments to stop relapses and progression (worsening) of your systemic sclerosis will be assessed.