Brentuximab Vedotin in Early Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis

Inclusion Criteria: * age 18 years or older * able to give informed consent * meet the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc * early dcSSc (disease duration ≤ 5 years from first non-Raynaud's phenomenon symptom) OR active dcSSc as determined by worsening mRSS, presence of tendon friction rubs, and/or elevated inflammatory markers thought to be due to active dcSSc and not related to other issues * mRSS≥ 15 * a negative TB skin test at screening, or treatment with INH for 6 months or other standardized LBTI (latent TB infection) treatment in the past Exclusion Criteria: 1. Poor pulmonary function (FVC\<40% and/or DLCO\<30%). 2. Pregnancy, breast feeding or child bearing potential without practicing reliable contraception (and partners for men in the study). 3. Clinically significant pulmonary hypertension requiring drug therapy. 4. Clinically significant cardiac disease. 5. Chronic or ongoing active infectious disease requiring systemic treatment. 6. Seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at study entry. 7. Active tuberculosis (TB) infection. 8. Active viral infection with viral replication of hepatitis B or C virus at study entry. 9. Significant concurrent, uncontrolled medical condition including, but not limited to, renal, hepatic, pancreatic, haematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, neurological, cerebral or psychiatric disease; and cancer. 10. Peripheral neuropathy at screening Grade 2 or higher. 11. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to components of the treatment 12. Patients known or suspected of not being able to comply with a study protocol (e.g. due to alcoholism, drug dependency or psychological disorder) 13. Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at screening: * Absolute neutrophils count \<2000/mm3 * Hemoglobin \<85 g/L * Platelet count \< 100,000/mm3 * AST/SGOT or ALT/SGPT \>2.0 UNL 14. Participation in another clinical trial within six weeks before randomization in this study 15. Use of rituximab within the previous 4 months. 16. Immunization with a live/ attenuated vaccine less than 4 weeks prior to the baseline visit. 17. Previous use of brentuximab vedotin. 18. Current or history of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).