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Scleroderma

Scleroderma means hard skin. It is a group of diseases that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue, the proteins that support your skin and organs. There are two main types. Localized scleroderma affects only your skin. Systemic scleroderma affects your blood vessels and internal organs, as well as your skin.

Symptoms of scleroderma include

No one knows what causes scleroderma. It is more common in women. It can be mild or severe. There is no cure, but various treatments can relieve symptoms.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Scleroderma on Wikipedia

'''Scleroderma''' is a rare disease, chronic disease characterized by excessive deposits of collagen. Progressive systemic scleroderma or '''systemic sclerosis''', the serious type of the disease, can be fatal. The local type of the disease is not serious.

Signs and symptoms

Scleroderma affects the skin, and in serious, life-threatening cases, it can affect the blood vessels and internal organs. The most evident symptom is the hardening of the skin. The seriousness of the disease depends on which organs, if any, are affected. There is discoloration of the hands and feet in response to cold. Most patients (>80%) have Raynaud's phenomenon, a vascular symptom that can affect the fingers, and toes. Systemic scleroderma and Raynaud's can cause painful ulcers on the fingers or toes, which are known as digital ulcers.

Types

There are three major forms of scleroderma: diffuse, limited (''CREST syndrome'') and morphea/linear. Diffuse and limited scleroderma are both a systemic disease, whereas the linear/morphea form is localized to the skin. Diffuse scleroderma is the most severe form - it has a rapid onset, involves more widespread skin hardening, will generally cause much internal organ damage (specifically the lungs and gastrointestinal tract), and is generally more life threatening. The limited form is much milder: it has a slow onset and progression, skin hardening is usually confined to the hands and face, internal organ involvement is less severe, and a much better prognosis is expected. The limited form is often referred to as "CREST" syndrome. CREST is an acronym for: * Calcinosis * Raynaud's phenomenon * Esophagus dysmotility * Sclerodactyly * Telangiectasia These five are the major symptoms of the CREST syndrome. Some physicians consider CREST and limited scleroderma one and the same, ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

Scleroderma Video Series - A collection of 11 video presentations made by some of the foremost Scleroderma experts in the US.

Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases - A parent support Yahoo! group for those who have a child with JRD such as Lupus, JRA, Scleroderma, Spondyloarthropies, Dermatomyositis.

Raynauds and Scleroderma Association - Information about the organization, contact information, publications and the latest research.

Juvenile Rheumatic Disease Group - Online support for parents of children with a JRD, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile scleroderma, juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile systemic lupus, and other rheumatic disorders. Includes resources.

Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases - A parent online support group for parents who have a child with Lupus, JRA, Juvenile Scleroderma, Spondyloarthropathies, and Dermatomyositis. Offers a description and joining instructions.

Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder - An autoimmune process with symptoms of Scleroderma, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus , Rheumatoid Arthritis and/or other autoimmune diseases. This page describes symptoms and treatments and has lists of useful links.

International Scleroderma Network - Resource for medical and support information including symptoms, treatments, clinical trials, and support group listings.

The Scleroderma Research Foundation - Information about the organization, research, mailing list and resources.

The Scleroderma Foundation - National nonprofit health organization with 14,000 members, dedicated to a three-fold mission of support, education, and research to help fight this challenging autoimmune disease.

Scleroderma Society of Canada - A non-profit society raising awareness of and funding for research and a cure. Good factual information about this disease.

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