Scleroderma
What is it?
Scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis, is a chronic, degenerative disease that affects the joints, skin, and internal organs and is also associated with blood vessel abnormalities.
Symptoms:
- Thickening and swelling of the tips of the fingers
- Raynaud's disease symptoms such as:
- A pattern of color changes in the fingers - first pale/white, then reddening when warmed.
- Hands may become swollen and painful when warmed
- Ulcerations of the finger pads develop (in severe cases)
- Joint pain
- Taut, shiny, darker skin on large areas such as the face, that may hinder movement
- Appearance of spider veins
- Calcium bumps on the fingers or other bony areas
- Grating noise as inflamed tissues moveFrozen (immobile) fingers, wrists, or elbows due to scarring of the skin
- Scars on fingertips and knuckle
- Scarring of the esophagus, leading to heartburn and difficulty swallowing
- Scarring of the lungs, leading to shortness of breath
- Heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
- Kidney disease
- Another, less severe form, is called CREST Syndrome, which has the following symptoms:
- Calcium skin deposits
- Esophageal dysfunction
- Sclerodactyly, which is skin damage on fingers
Treatment
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroids (to relieve pain)
- Penicillamine (to slow the skin thickening process and delay damage to internal organs)
- Immunosuppressive medications
- Treating specific symptoms, such as heartburn and Raynaud's phenomenon
- Physical therapy and/or occupational therapy and exercise (to maintain muscle strength)
Learn more about scleroderma. » Go
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