Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Scleroderma – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scleroderma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351952

  Scleroderma symptoms vary from person to person, depending on which parts of the body are affected. […] Nearly everyone who has scleroderma experiences hardening and tightening of the skin. […] The first parts of the body to be affected are usually the fingers, hands, feet and face. In some people, the skin thickening also can involve the forearms, upper arms, chest, abdomen, lower legs and thighs. Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness. The color of affected skin can become lighter or darker, and skin may look shiny because of the tightness. […] Some people also have small red spots, called telangiectasia, on their hands and face. Calcium deposits can form under the skin, particularly at the fingertips, causing bumps that can be seen on X-rays. […] Raynaud’s phenomenon is common in scleroderma. It happens because of an exaggerated contraction of the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes in response to cold temperatures or emotional distress. When this happens, the digits may feel painful or numb and turn white, blue, gray or red. Raynaud’s phenomenon also can occur in people who don’t have scleroderma.

• #2 Scleroderma: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/scleroderma

  Scleroderma symptoms include thickened skin. Scleroderma makes patches of your skin and other tissue thicker than they should be. Scleroderma usually affects your skin, but can cause symptoms in any tissue throughout your body. If you have scleroderma, your immune system triggers your body’s cells to produce too much collagen (a protein). Your body needs collagen to have strong, healthy connective tissue to support your organs and hold parts of your body in place. But when you produce too much of it, your skin and other tissue can be thicker and more fibrous than they should be. Scleroderma is a chronic condition, which means you’ll need to manage your symptoms for a long time (maybe the rest of your life). It can also cause life-threatening complications if it affects tissue in your organs. Visit a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing symptoms like pain and stiffness in your joints, especially if you notice thickened skin around your fingers and toes.

• #3 Scleroderma: Signs and symptoms

  https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/scleroderma-symptoms

  Scleroderma has many signs and symptoms. The following images let you see some of the ways it can affect your skin. […] This trait is what gives scleroderma its name. Some people develop 1 or 2 patches of hard, thick skin. Others have widespread patches on their body. The hard, thick skin can feel anchored in place. If you have morphea (more-fee-uh), the most common type of scleroderma, the patches may not feel too hard. In time, the hardened skin may soften. […] Scleroderma causes extremely dry skin, and dry skin itches. The extreme dryness can cause the skin to breakdown and sores can form. […] The patches of hardened skin can be lighter or darker than your natural skin color. Some people develop violet-colored skin, which means that the scleroderma is active and expanding. […] If you have a salt-and-pepper look on your skin, you should see a doctor. This can be a sign that you have a type of scleroderma that affects internal organs. The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the better your prognosis (what is likely to happen).

• #4 Scleroderma Symptoms – Scleroderma Education Project

  https://sclerodermainfo.org/faq/symptoms-and-prognosis/

  The first specific clinical symptom to suggest a diagnosis of scleroderma is skin thickening that begins as swelling or puffiness of the fingers and hands. The puffiness is usually worse in the morning and reduces later in the day, especially in early stages of the disease. Later the skin becomes hard, shiny, and leathery. With diffuse scleroderma, these areas of hardness are widespread and typically appear on both sides of the body. In the more limited form, skin thickening is often restricted to the hands and face. Eventually, tissue loss occurs and the skin becomes more highly colored. […] People with limited scleroderma usually have Raynauds symptoms for years (often 5 to 10 years) before other signs of scleroderma are noted. However, even the limited form can, in rare cases, present with internal organ involvement without being preceded by Raynauds symptoms. Patients with limited scleroderma are less likely to develop severe lung, heart, or kidney involvement than patients with diffuse disease, although these complications can occur late in the disease process.

• #5 Scleroderma: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/scleroderma

  Some people with early scleroderma don’t have any symptoms. The most common scleroderma symptom is having patches or streaks of thickened, waxy skin. Other common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness (especially when waking up in the morning), fatigue (feeling extremely tired all the time), and unexplained weight loss. Which other symptoms you experience (and where they affect you) depends on which type of scleroderma you have. […] Localized scleroderma usually only affects skin thickening. The thickened skin can be isolated to one specific area or appear in patches. It’s rare for localized scleroderma to affect your internal organs. Systemic scleroderma can cause lots of symptoms. It causes thickened skin, usually in larger areas and patches, including on your face and hands. Thick skin usually appears on your fingers or toes and then spreads toward the center of your body. If you have Raynaud’s syndrome, the skin on your affected fingers and toes may change color when they’re exposed to cold (usually white, reddish or purple).

• #6 Symptoms of Scleroderma – National Scleroderma Foundation

  https://scleroderma.org/symptoms-of-scleroderma/

  Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease. The symptoms of scleroderma vary greatly from person-to-person, and not all people with scleroderma develop all complications. Symptoms of scleroderma may be visible, as is the case when the skin is affected, or the symptoms may be invisible, as when internal organ systems are affected. […] Raynaud Phenomenon is the most common early symptom of systemic scleroderma. It is present at one time or another in about 90 percent of patients. […] Swelling is another typical early symptom of scleroderma, and this may be especially noticeable upon waking up in the morning due to muscle inactivity at night. […] Symptoms of pain, stiffness, swelling, warmth, or tenderness may accompany the arthritis-like joint inflammation which frequently occurs in scleroderma.

• #7 Scleroderma

  https://rheumatology.org/patients/scleroderma

  Scleroderma symptoms may range from minor to life-threatening. An early, common sign of scleroderma is color changes to the fingers called Raynauds phenomenon. Fingers or toes may look red, white, or blue, especially in cold temperatures and may be swollen, numb, painful or develop ulcers. […] In addition to Raynauds phenomenon, patients can have other symptoms depending on the involvement of joints, muscles, and internal organs including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys. […] Diagnosis is based on history and physical exam findings, blood tests, autoantibodies seen in scleroderma, and imaging of heart or lungs.

• #8 Scleroderma Symptoms – Scleroderma Education Project

  https://sclerodermainfo.org/faq/symptoms-and-prognosis/

  With diffuse scleroderma, there is usually a short interval (weeks or months) between the development of Raynauds and significant additional symptoms, and, in some cases, Raynauds will not be the first symptom. Relatively rapid skin changes often occur in the first few months of the disease and continue to progress over the next 2 to 3 years. This is often followed by a remission of the skin changes, and the skin either thins or sometimes returns toward normal thickness. The severe fibrosis of the skin, especially in the fingers and hands, can cause significant disability. […] Diffuse scleroderma can also include a wide range of potential complications, including inflammation of the muscles, swelling of the fingers and/or hands, microvascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal malfunction, lung fibrosis, pulmonary artery hypertension, progressive kidney failure, and cardiovascular problems. Internal organ involvement often occurs early in diffuse scleroderma and can be the initial presenting symptom.

• #9 Scleroderma – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scleroderma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351952

  Scleroderma can affect any part of the digestive system, from the esophagus to the rectum. Depending on which parts of the digestive system are affected, symptoms may include heartburn, difficulty swallowing, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and fecal incontinence. […] When scleroderma affects the heart or lungs, it can cause shortness of breath, decreased exercise tolerance and dizziness. Scleroderma can cause scarring in the lung tissues that may result in increasing shortness of breath over time. There are medicines that may help slow the progression of this lung damage. […] Scleroderma also can cause the blood pressure to increase in the circulation that goes between the heart and the lungs. This is called pulmonary hypertension. In addition to causing shortness of breath, pulmonary hypertension also can cause excess fluid to build up in the legs, feet and sometimes around the heart. […] When scleroderma affects the heart, heartbeats can become irregular. Heart failure also may happen in some people.

• #10 Esophageal Scleroderma Symptoms | Northwestern Medicine

  https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/gastroenterology/esophageal-scleroderma/symptoms

  Scleroderma causes abnormal growth of connective tissue and can scar the esophagus, leading to heartburn and trouble swallowing. […] Symptoms of esophageal scleroderma depend on the extent of the disease. Symptoms may include: Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), Odynophagia (pain when swallowing), Heartburn, Feeling that food is stuck in the esophagus, Chest pain from esophageal spasms, Choking, Dysphonia (hoarseness or voice loss), Regurgitation (the return of partially digested food from the stomach to the mouth).

• #11 Scleroderma – Esophageal Health | UCLA Health

  https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/gastro/esophageal-health/diseases-we-treat/scleroderma

  Normally, swallowing produces a ring of esophageal contraction called peristalsis, which sweeps swallowed materials down the esophagus and into the stomach. Patients with scleroderma of the esophagus typically lack this peristaltic contraction, which is called aperistalsis. When this occurs, foods, particularly solids, hang up in the esophagus and produce dysphagia (the sensation that food is stuck in the chest). Aperistalsis also worsens GERD because the esophagus cannot clear injurious, refluxed gastric contents back into the stomach. This prolongs the time acid injury can occur in the esophagus.

• #12 Scleroderma Symptoms – Scleroderma Education Project

  https://sclerodermainfo.org/faq/symptoms-and-prognosis/

  With diffuse scleroderma, the inflammation and further thickening stops as the skin begins to thin, although the skin will usually bind with underlying structures. Painful ulcerations can occur at joints. […] Nonspecific muscle pain and stiffness are often some of the earliest symptoms of scleroderma. While arthritis can also occur, the pain and stiffness over the joints is greater than would normally be expected based on the degree of inflammation visible. […] Some reduction of lung functioning occurs in almost all cases of scleroderma, both in the limited and diffuse forms. However, unless closely monitored, there may be no symptoms until later stages of the disease, at which point lung problems can become a major cause of death. […] The most common initial symptom is shortness of breath after exercise or other exertion. Later, a persistent non-productive cough can develop.

• #13 Scleroderma: MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000429.htm

  Bone and muscle symptoms may include: Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, resulting in loss of motion. The hands are often involved due to fibrosis around tissue and tendons. Numbness and pain in the feet. […] Breathing problems may result from scarring in the lungs and can include: Dry cough, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Increased risk for lung cancer. […] Digestive tract problems may include: Difficulty swallowing, Esophageal reflux or heartburn, Bloating after meals, Constipation, Diarrhea, Problems controlling stools. […] Heart problems may include: Abnormal heart rhythm, Fluid around the heart, Fibrosis in heart muscle, decreasing heart function. […] Kidney and genitourinary problems may include: Development of kidney failure, Erectile dysfunction in men, Vaginal dryness in women.

• #14 Symptoms of Scleroderma – National Scleroderma Foundation

  https://scleroderma.org/symptoms-of-scleroderma/

  Sclerodactyly means hard skin of the digits, particularly the fingers and toes. It generally occurs after initial swelling has subsided. It is characterized by shiny, tight skin of the fingers. […] Multiple factors can cause pulmonary (lung) involvement in systemic scleroderma. Symptoms of lung involvement include shortness of breath, a decreased tolerance for exercise and a persistent cough. […] Kidney or renal involvement in systemic scleroderma may be mild or very serious in nature. Early signs of kidney involvement may include mild hypertension (high blood pressure), protein in the urine and blood test abnormalities. […] Living with a chronic illness can lead to thoughts of anxiety and depression. Some individuals with may also experience chronic fatigue, which can cause cognitive impairment.

• #15 Scleroderma: Signs and symptoms

  https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/scleroderma-symptoms

  When the hard, thickening, or tight skin forms over a joint (i.e., the jaw, wrist, or finger), the tightness can make it difficult to move that joint. […] The hardening and tightening sometimes extends to the muscle. This can cause the muscle to weaken and shorten. […] Other forms of scleroderma can also cause loss of tissue beneath the skin. […] When a child gets some types of scleroderma, such as linear scleroderma or en coup de sabre, the scleroderma can interfere with bone growth. […] When a person has a type of scleroderma that also affects the internal organs, its common to have skin sores. […] This is often an early warning that scleroderma affects the internal organs. […] Some types of scleroderma affect the skin and internal organs like the lungs and kidneys. The following symptoms can be a warning sign that scleroderma is affecting an internal organ: Problems swallowing, Heartburn, Diarrhea, Constipation, Bloated feeling after eating, Weight loss without trying. […] If you have any of these, you should see a dermatologist, rheumatologist, or other doctor who treats scleroderma. The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the better your outcome.

• #16

  https://www.painscale.com/article/progression-and-potential-complications-of-scleroderma

  The progression of scleroderma is highly individualized and depends on whether it is localized, limited systemic, or diffuse. […] In cases of localized scleroderma, the hardening of skin typically stops after two years, and the lesions dont extend to other areas. Response to treatment and progression of systemic scleroderma widely varies. Some individuals have mild disease that does not progress, while others have disease that quickly progresses. […] Progression of systemic scleroderma depends on whether it is classified as limited or diffuse. […] Progression of limited systemic scleroderma typically involves slow and gradual skin thickening with little change from year to year. […] The progression of diffuse scleroderma typically involves skin thickening over the first 1-3 years with corresponding development of organ involvement, progression slows and stabilizes after 1-2 years, and skin softens and disease improves after year 5. New organ involvement is unlikely after the fifth year.

• #17 Scleroderma Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/scleroderma

  Scleroderma is marked by the following: […] People with scleroderma may develop either a localized or a systemic (body-wide) form of the disease. […] Localized scleroderma usually affects only the skin on the hands and face. Its progression is very slow, and it rarely, if ever, spreads throughout the body (becomes systemic) or causes serious complications. […] Systemic scleroderma is also called systemic sclerosis. This form of the disease may affect the organs of the body, large areas of the skin, or both. This form of scleroderma has two main types: limited and diffuse scleroderma. Both forms are progressive, although most often the course of the disease in both types is slow. […] Limited scleroderma is a progressive disorder. It is classified as a systemic disease because its effects can be widespread throughout the body.

• #18 Scleroderma: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments | Arthritis Foundation

  https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/scleroderma

  Scleroderma causes hardening and tightening of the skin but may also affect other body parts. […] There are two types of scleroderma localized and systemic (sometimes called systemic sclerosis). […] In many cases, the skin will soften, and patches will clear up on their own within three to five years. […] The first signs of systemic scleroderma are often cold sensitivity and puffy fingers. […] Symptoms worsen in cold weather or when handling cold objects. […] The effect on internal organs tends to be mild. […] Diffuse scleroderma involves widespread skin thickening over any part of the body, especially the hands, arms, thighs, chest, abdomen and face. […] The severity of internal organ involvement varies. […] Hardening of the skin, muscle and bone can limit range of motion in the joints.

• #19 Scleroderma and Lupus – Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus

  https://kaleidoscopefightinglupus.org/lupus-and-scleroderma/

  Scleroderma is one of the most common overlap diseases for those living with lupus, with about 20% of those with scleroderma also having lupus. […] About 20% of individuals with lupus will develop scleroderma; it is the most common of the lupus overlap diseases. […] One of the most frequent and earliest signs of scleroderma is the presence of another lupus overlap disease, Raynauds phenomenon. Raynauds phenomenon affects the smaller blood vessels that supply blood flow to the skin causing them to constrict. As a result, parts of the body, such as fingers, toes, ears or even the nose can become cold, numb and even change color when exposed to cold temperatures and/or stress. Approximately 95% of individuals with scleroderma also have Raynauds phenomenon. According to a 2016 European Scleroderma Trials and Research Group (EUSTAR) study, other symptoms of scleroderma typically manifest in less than a year after the onset of Raynauds phenomenon.

• #20 Scleroderma Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/report/scleroderma

  Diffuse scleroderma, the other type of systemic sclerosis, has the following characteristics: […] It can have a very slow course, but it also may start quickly and be accompanied by swelling of the whole hand. If it gets worse quickly early on, the condition can affect internal organs and become very severe, even life threatening. […] The severity of diffuse scleroderma varies widely, and it is very difficult to predict its course. […] The most critical period for rapid progression is usually within the first 2 to 5 years of the start of the disease. […] Many people with systemic scleroderma experience a plateau in which the condition stabilizes. This plateau is followed by a period of improvement and skin softening. […] The many complications of scleroderma can have a major impact on a person’s sense of well-being.

• #21 Scleroderma: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/331864-overview

  The fibrotic process is characterized by the excessive production and deposition of types I, III, and VI collagens and other ECM and connective tissue macromolecules. […] Survival in patients with diffuse cutaneous disease has improved significantly; currently, the 5-year survival is estimated to be about 80%. Five-year survival in patients with limited cutaneous disease is approximately 90%. […] Factors associated with a more severe prognosis are as follows: Younger age, African descent, Rapid progression of skin symptoms, Greater extent of skin involvement, Anemia, Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Pulmonary, renal, and cardiac involvement. […] Systemic sclerosis has the highest case-specific mortality among the systemic autoimmune diseases. Pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis (interstitial lung disease), and scleroderma renal crisis are the most frequent causes of death. […] Mortality associated with scleroderma renal crisis has declined significantly in recent decades. In contrast, pulmonary involvement has become the most common cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis.

• #22 Scleroderma – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scleroderma

  As of 2012, the five-year survival rate for systemic scleroderma was about 85%, whereas the 10-year survival rate was just under 70%. This varies according to the subtype; while localized scleroderma rarely results in death, the systemic form can, and the diffuse systemic form carries a worse prognosis than the limited form. The major scleroderma-related causes of death are: pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, and scleroderma renal crisis.

• #23 Systemic sclerosis | Scleroderma | Versus Arthritis

  https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/systemic-sclerosis-scleroderma/

  Most people with systemic sclerosis have some problems with swallowing or heartburn. Less often, other parts of the digestive system may be affected, leading to bloating, diarrhoea or constipation. […] Systemic sclerosis can cause the tissues around joints to stiffen, which can reduce the range of movement of joints. […] Sometimes systemic sclerosis may progress more quickly. […] Unfortunately, systemic sclerosis can sometimes cause people serious problems. These can include: scarring of the lungs, causing shortness of breath and a dry cough; narrowing of the blood vessels of the lungs, leading to high blood pressure in the lungs, which may in turn strain the heart; kidney problems resulting in high blood pressure. […] The body is able to break down or repair extra scar tissue. This means there may be some improvement in scarring both in the skin and in other organs once it becomes less active.

• #24 Scleroderma: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

  https://www.verywellhealth.com/scleroderma-the-basic-facts-190376

  For example, joint and muscle pain and swelling of the hands are common in the early stages of scleroderma. […] When scleroderma affects the kidneys, a rare but severe complication, called scleroderma renal crisis, may develop. This causes malignant high blood pressure along with kidney failure. […] Scleroderma-related heart problems may manifest as abnormal heart rhythms or congestive heart failure. […] Interstitial lung disease (scarring of the lung tissue) is more common with diffuse scleroderma, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries of the lung) is more common in the limited form. Lung complications are the leading causes of death in systemic sclerosis.

• #25 Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

  https://patient.info/doctor/systemic-sclerosis-scleroderma

  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH): Occurs in up to 12% of patients with scleroderma. A leading cause of death in SSc. The presence of PAH drastically reduces survival rate (50% mortality within three years of diagnosis of PAH. Outcome is worse than for other causes of PAH). Symptoms and signs: exertional dyspnoea, syncope, right ventricular strain features. […] Scleroderma renal crisis. This is a serious condition with features of accelerated hypertension, which can lead to renal failure if not treated promptly. It occurs in 2-15% of patients with SSc and is more common in those with diffuse, rapidly progressive disease. It usually presents as accelerated hypertension with oliguria, headache, fatigue, oedema, rapidly rising serum creatinine levels, proteinuria and microscopic haematuria. Scleroderma renal crises can occur with apparently normal blood pressure but the blood pressure is higher than baseline values – hence the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring. […] The disease course varies with each individual. The prognosis depends on the extent of complications. Therefore, mortality figures vary enormously. Overall, five-year survival is around 75% and ten-year survival is around 62.5%. The most common causes of death are now pulmonary fibrosis and PAH.

• #26 Scleroderma: MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000429.htm

  In some people, symptoms develop quickly for the first few years and continue to get worse. However, in most people, the disease gets worse only slowly. […] People who have only skin symptoms have a better outlook. Widespread (systemic) scleroderma can lead to heart failure, scarring of the lungs, called pulmonary fibrosis, high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), kidney failure (scleroderma renal crisis), problems absorbing nutrients from food, cancer.

• #27 Scleroderma Symptoms – Scleroderma Education Project

  https://sclerodermainfo.org/faq/symptoms-and-prognosis/

  A significant number of scleroderma patients also suffer from Sjgrens syndrome (also called Sicca syndrome). The primary symptoms are dry mouth and eyes. […] Hypothyroidism (reduced function of the thyroid) is very common in systemic scleroderma because of either fibrosis of the thyroid or thyroid autoimmune disorder. […] Sleep disturbance is also common with scleroderma patients.

• #28 Scleroderma > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

  https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/scleroderma

  Symptoms of systemic scleroderma may include: Puffy fingers and/or dry, itchy skin, especially in the early stages of the condition; Thickened, shiny, hairless areas of skin that are darker or lighter than the surrounding areas; Telangiectasias; Calcinosis cutis (calcium deposits under the skin that appear as hard white, yellow, reddish, or skin-colored bumps); Ulcerations on the fingertips, finger joints, elbows, and ankles; Pitting on the fingertips; A mask-like, expressionless face (due to skin tightening and a reduced ability to move the eyelids, mouth, and cheeks); Difficulty opening the mouth. […] Systemic scleroderma can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). […] The outlook for people with scleroderma varies greatly, depending on their type of scleroderma, which organs are involved, and the severity of the disease. […] In general, people with systemic scleroderma are at greater risk of complications or death than those with localized scleroderma.

• #29 Systemic Scleroderma Stages and Life Expectancy

  https://www.emedicinehealth.com/systemic_scleroderma_stages_and_life_expectancy/article_em.htm

  Scleroderma is characterized by progressive skin and connective tissue tightening and hardening. It may also affect subcutaneous tissue, muscles, and internal organs. […] There are five stages of scleroderma symptom development and progression. […] Stage 1: Immune system malfunction […] Stage 2: Circulating pathogenic factors […] Stage 3: Microvascular endothelial damage […] Stage 4: Fibrosis (thickening/scarring) […] Stage 5: Organ damage […] Symptoms of systemic sclerosis may affect many parts of the body, such as: […] Tightening of the skin on the face is an early symptom […] Skin hardening first affects the fingers (sclerodactyly) and extends inward […] Progressive skin tightness and hardening (induration), often preceded by swelling […] Systemic sclerosis has the highest mortality rate among systemic autoimmune diseases due to pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis (interstitial lung disease), and scleroderma renal crisis. […] The five-year survival rate (that is, patients who are still alive 5 years following diagnosis) among patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis is about 84%. […] Five-year survival among patients with limited skin (cutaneous) systemic sclerosis is high over 90%.

• #30 Scleroderma – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/scleroderma-a-to-z

  Skin symptoms. There can be swelling of the fingers, hands, forearms, and face, and sometimes the feet and lower legs. This is followed by a skin thickening and tightness that can limit body movement. […] More than 95% of people with scleroderma have both Raynaud’s phenomenon and skin thickening (also called sclerodactyly when the fingers are involved). […] In the diffuse form of the disease, skin symptoms tend to peak within three years, then stabilize or even improve. If skin changes occur more rapidly, there is often a greater risk that internal organs are being damaged as well. In limited scleroderma, skin symptoms tend to worsen very slowly over a period of many years. […] While many people with scleroderma live long, full lives, the death rate is increased by up to eight times for diffuse disease and two times for limited disease. Pulmonary hypertension and diffuse skin disease are risk factors for poor prognosis.

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