Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases that causes the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, scleroderma is rare, affecting only about 300,000 Americans.
Causes
People who have scleroderma have an excessive amount of a substance called collagen in the skin and organs. Experts at the National Institutes of Health explain that the exact cause of this collagen buildup is unknown, but the body's immune system seems to turn against itself causing inflammation and the overproduction of collagen.
Symptoms
Symptoms of scleroderma vary depending on which organs are affected by the illness. The most prevalent signs and symptoms, according to the MayoClinic.com, are gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, swollen fingers and hands, thickened patches of skin especially on the hands, the tightening of skin around the face, hands and mouth and Reynaud's phenomenon. Reynaud's phenomenon is an exaggerated response to stress and cold temperatures causing a constriction in the blood vessels in the hands and feet and causes numbness, pain and skin color changes in the toes and fingers.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase a person's chances for developing scleroderma. Chactaw Native Americans in Oklahoma are at least 20 times more likely than other populations to develop scleroderma, according to the MayoClinic.com. Scleroderma is also more common in African-Americans than in those of European descent. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that scleroderma is three to eight times higher in women than men.
Complications
Scleroderma can cause complications throughout the body. People with scleroderma are more likely to end up with scarring of the lung tissue known as pulmonary fibrosis which can cause reduced lung function, reduced tolerance for exercise and reduced ability to breathe. Kidney complications can cause elevated blood pressure and increase proteins in the urine. Scleroderma can cause scarring of the heart tissues which can lead to arrhythmias and congestive heart failure, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Diagnosis
As of 2010, there is no cure for scleroderma, according to the National Institutes of Health. Treatment often includes treating the complications of the scleroderma. Common medications include corticosteroids, immune suppressing drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Other treatments may include drugs for treating GERD, blood pressure medications, light therapy for skin thickening and medicines to improve breathing.
