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Scleroderma Information

Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic connective tissue disease. Another name for the disease is systematic sclerosis. Scleroderma is not contagious or infectious, and is not a form of cancer. The symptoms and problems associated with the disease vary by individual. For some, the disease is a mild nuisance, while for others it is life threatening. The quicker the diagnosis is made and treatment started, the better a person's prognosis and quality of life are.

  1. Prevalence

    • The Scleroderma Foundation states there are 300,000 people with the disease in the United States, one third of which have the systematic form.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms vary among patients, but can include Raynaud's syndrome or over-sensitivity to cold in the extremities and stress, which leads to blood vessel constriction in the hands and feet causing numbness, pain and discoloration of the fingers and toes. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, in which acid backs up into the esophagus, is also common among scleroderma sufferers. Changes to the skin that include swelling of the hands and fingers, thick patches of skin and tightening of the skin on the hands, face or mouth are usual symptoms. Oval shaped patches of thick skin, which are white with purple borders, are common in people with Morphea, a localized type of scleroderma. Streaks of hard skin on the arms, legs or forehead are common in people with linear scleroderma, another localized type of the disease.

    Cause

    • The exact cause of scleroderma is not known, but studies have found that an overproduction of collagen is involved in the disease.

    Risk Factors

    • Risk factors for developing scleroderma include being a Choctaw Native American in Oklahoma, being African-American, being female and between the ages of 25 and 55.

    Considerations

    • Exposure to silica dust, solvents like paint thinner, and chemotherapy drugs may be linked to the development of scleroderma.

    Treatment

    • There is no cure for scleroderma but treatment options are available to improve quality of life. Medications to treat GERD, blood pressure medications to dilate blood vessels to help with Raynaud's syndrome and immune suppressing drugs are used. Physical therapy to help with mobility and pain, along with cosmetic procedures to fix skin lesions are other treatment options employed. Amputation for ulcers that form on the fingers due to gangrene developed because of Raynaud's syndrome, and lung transplants when high blood pressure develops in the arteries to the lungs are also treatments for the condition.

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