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- About 90% of systemic sclerosis patients have a primary symptom called Raynaud’s phenomenon.
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- Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) causes the body to destroy healthy tissue.
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Scleroderma also may cause problems in the blood vessels, internal organs and digestive tract. Fibrosis of internal organs is a very dangerous complication of diffuse scleroderma involving the kidneys, lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. (The lungs are the most commonly affected.) Fibrosis in the lungs causes scarring in the part of the lungs where oxygen passes into the blood vessels. Sometimes ILD can also lead to or exist with pulmonary hypertension.
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- Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment of a medical or health condition.
- Systemic sclerosis (SS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes atypical growth of connective tissues.
- Regular exercise and physical therapy may keep joints flexible.
Trust your instincts and your body if something feels https://traderoom.info/just2trade-forex-broker-overview/ “off.” Even subtle changes in your symptoms can be a sign of an issue your healthcare provider should examine. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions or share concerns about your symptoms or treatments. That’s because you’ll probably have to manage symptoms for the rest of your life. However, that doesn’t mean scleroderma will control your life.
Types of Scleroderma: Localized and Systemic
Nearly everyone who has scleroderma experiences hardening and tightening of the skin. Built to cross oceans, cruise along scenic waterways and dock at locations larger ships can’t access — this small ship cruising experience is unlike any other. The second stunning ship in the Prima Class, Norwegian Viva® is designed for you to live life to the fullest.
Share your concerns or worries with your healthcare provider. You should expect to manage scleroderma and its symptoms for the rest of your life. Even though there’s no cure, most people find treatments and lifestyle tweaks to minimize how much their symptoms impact their day-to-day lives. Reynaud’s syndrome affects small blood vessels in your fingers and toes (your digits).
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Mycophenolate is also used to treat patients who develop scarring or inflammation of the lungs (known as interstitial lung disease). In more severe lung cases, treatment with tocilizumab, which is a biologic medication might be helpful. In patients with even more progressive disease, treatment with nintedanib (Ofev) or rituximab can be tried. Other treatments for a serious lung complication (pulmonary arterial hypertension) can relax constricted blood vessels to ease high blood pressure.
Scleroderma symptoms were first described in 1753 by Carlo Curzio and then well documented in 1842. The term is from the Greek skleros meaning “hard” and derma meaning “skin”. However, when the fibrosis involves your other internal organs, this is considered systemic sclerosis. Even though there is no cure for scleroderma, most people with the condition may lead a full life due to treatments available for symptom management. It causes the blood vessels in your fingers and toes to contract in response to stress or cold temperatures. As a result, your fingers and toes may turn blue or feel painful and numb.
How does systemic sclerosis affect your body?
Early in the disease, there is usually an inflammatory phase. This progresses to fibrosis— thickening and scarring of affected parts of the body. In most cases, there is extensive skin fibrosis covering the hands, arms, feet, legs, and other parts of the body. About 90% of systemic sclerosis patients have a primary symptom called Raynaud’s phenomenon. With this condition, the small blood vessels of the hands, and sometimes feet, overreact to cold or stress.
The skin of the face may also tighten and harden, especially around the mouth. This makes eating, drinking, and care of teeth difficult. Generalized morphea is a more severe, although less common, condition than localized morphea. Large dark patches of thick, tight skin form on the trunk, arms, and legs, and can be so extensive that they merge into one another. These widespread plaques closely resemble oversized patches of localized morphea but are usually ivory-colored and sometimes have a distinct violet-colored border. At the Scleroderma Research Foundation we are devoting every possible resource to solving the mysteries of this complex, difficult disease.
What causes scleroderma?
Some are affected early with aggressive changes while others have milder scleroderma symptoms. This makes a concise definition—and diagnosis—of scleroderma difficult. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and stop the progression of the disease. Typical scleroderma is classically defined as symmetrical skin thickening, with about 70% of cases also presenting with Raynaud’s phenomenon, nail-fold capillary changes, and antinuclear antibodies. Affected individuals may experience systemic organ involvement. No single test for scleroderma works all of the time; hence, diagnosis is often a matter of exclusion.
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Still, we do not yet have therapies to halt or reverse the disease process. Patients continue to experience pain and other disabling symptoms of scleroderma, and many patients die. Patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon should keep their bodies, hands, and feet warm with layered clothing, boots and gloves in cold weather. Protect fingers and toes from activities that could injure skin.
Atypical scleroderma may show any variation of these changes without skin changes or with finger swelling only. Scleroderma renal crisis is a rare but severe complication of SS that remains a significant risk factor for the life-threatening progression of the disease. A 2020 study mentioned that the number has decreased in recent years and currently affects about 2% to 5% of people who receive a diagnosis of SS. Raynaud’s phenomenon results from limited cutaneous systemic scleroderma. Here, you will see small blood vessels in your fingers and toes start to constrict, or shrink, in response to cold temperatures or certain emotions.
