Scleroderma

What Is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. It may also affect internal organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

Common Symptoms:

• Skin thickening and tightening
• Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Digestive issues
• Shortness of breath or lung problems
• Kidney or heart complications

Types of Scleroderma

Localized Scleroderma:

• Affects only the skin and sometimes underlying muscles.
• Subtypes: Morphea (patches of hard skin), Linear scleroderma (a line of hardened skin).

Systemic Sclerosis (Systemic Scleroderma):

• Involves skin and internal organs.
• Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc): affects hands, arms, and face; associated with CREST syndrome.
• Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc): affects larger skin areas and internal organs early.

Diagnosis

• Clinical evaluation
• Blood tests for autoantibodies (e.g .. ANA, anti-centromere. anti-Scl-70)
• Imaging and organ function tests