What is Scleroderma?
Scleroderma is an autoimmune
disease that affects over 300,000 Americans-yet there is still no known cause,
definitive treatment, or cure.
As with all autoimmune diseases, the body's own immune system
attacks itself. In scleroderma the site of attack is the body's connective
tissue. Over-production of collagen (the fibrous substance that makes up connective
tissue) results. In its most severe form, the disease attacks skin and internal
organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys. "Localized" scleroderma
on the other hand is relatively mild and does not affect internal organs.
There are a number of theories
about the causes of scleroderma ranging from the genetic predispositions to
environmental factors. For unknown reasons, more than 80 percent of sufferers
are women between the ages of 25 and 55 years old.
A common first symptom of scleroderma is Raynaud's phenomenon, in which fingertips
and feet overreact to cold or stress by changing color: from blue, to white,
then red. Other symptoms of scleroderma may include: thickening of the skin,
shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, stiff hands, and joint or bone pain.
Scleroderma symptoms often mimic other disorders, and they vary from person
to person. As a result, this condition is often misdiagnosed.
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Created: 8/22/2001  - Donnica Moore, M.D.
Reviewed: 6/30/2003  - Donnica Moore, M.D.