Scleroderma, in its severe form, is a
life-threatening disease that affects multiple organs in the body and
causes them to shut down. It is a chronic and degenerative disorder with
no known cause or way to stop its progression. The National Institutes
of Health estimates more than 300,000 people in the U.S. alone are
living with some form of the disease. This is as large a population as
patients with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis.
Scleroderma primarily affects women between the ages of 30 and 50, but
also strikes men and children across all ages and ethnic boundaries.
Scleroderma is a combination of autoimmune, inflammatory, and vascular
disease. In severe scleroderma, multiple organ systems can be involved,
including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and kidneys ? often with
lethal consequences. There is dramatic tissue damage including the
hardening of skin, shrinking of muscles, and injuring of tendons.
Patients frequently lose mobility in their joints, especially the hands,
and facial changes can be disfiguring and often painful.
The Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) is working with some of the
world?s most distinguished scientists and medical institutions to fund
research aimed at helping patients to live longer, fuller lives today ?
and curing patients tomorrow.
Any of the following warning signs is a signal to see a rheumatologist
or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate
treatment:
Skin thickness
Stiffness of hands and feet
Unexplained swelling/puffiness
Swallowing difficulties
General fatigue
Raynaud?s phenomenon*
*blanching of feet and hands from white to red to blue in response to
cold or stress
Anonymous
:p
