The invention relates to the prophylaxis and/or treatment of fibrosis and/or fibrotic diseases by means of antibodies. Above all the invention relates to the administration of an anti-alpha-v integrin (receptor) antibody to patients suffering from fibrosis and/or fibrotic diseases including but not limited to systemic sclerosis (SSc). More specifically the instant invention relates to the treatment of fibrotic diseases of the skin lung heart liver and/or kidney by means of said antibody. Even more specifically the instant invention relates to the administration of a recombinant de- immunized monoclonal antibody targeting av-integrins patients suffering from systemic sclerosis including but not limited to systemic sclerosis of the skin lung heart and/or kidney by means of the anti-alpha-v integrin antibody DI17E6 and structural mutants or modifications thereof.
