Hardening of the skin develops in this disorder. Systemic sclerosis is a subtype of scleroderma that affects internal organs aside from the skin. There are various symptoms that can develop from scleroderma-systemic sclerosis because the severity of the condition is different per case. To those are afflicted with this condition, regular blood and urine tests should be done. Blood pressure should also be monitored. Systemic sclerosis has no cure but treatments can alleviate the symptoms.
About two people out of 100,000 every year acquires this disorder. Women are at a higher risk than men and the condition is very rare in most children. The symptoms appear between ages thirty to sixty.
It is very possible for the woman to have a baby when she has systemic sclerosis. But the patient’s pregnancy can be a high risk if there are increased complications during the pregnancy when compared to women who do not have systemic sclerosis. Obstetrician and rheumatologists can be of help to the pregnant woman. It is very important that the pregnant woman discuss her medication with her doctor before trying to conceive a child because most medicines for systemic sclerosis are not suitable for pregnant women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is an autoimmune disorder meaning the body’s own cells attack other cells inside the body. Systemic sclerosis causes damage in the connective tissue found inside the body. Systemic sclerosis is also known as connective tissue disorder. The exact mechanism how this disorder is triggered is not yet known but some suggests that fibroblast cells are infected by the immune system and makes very high amounts of collagen. Once collagen is deposited in the skin, organs and blood vessels, it causes these parts to scar and thicken or the condition called fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raynaud’s phenomenon is one of the earliest symptoms for this condtion. Raynaud’s phenomenon happens when there are temporary changes of the skin with response to stress or coldness. This is usually found in fingers, nose and toes. The skin in these areas becomes pale, the turn blue and finally red. The color of the skin returns to normal after warming them up. Having Raynaud’s phenomenon does not mean that the patient has systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis occurs in one out of one hundred people with Raynaud’s phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is difficult to diagnose because it can take on several forms and no single examination or test can give a definitive conclusion. Physical examination, blood tests and consulting a rheumatologist can also be advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The condition can cause a lot of complications and is able to affect the internal organs in the body. This is because this condition is also called the connective tissue disease which is found throughout the body. The complications can vary from mild to severe.
The most common symptoms are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no known cure for this condition. The aim of the treatment is to reduce the symptoms to a tolerable level, detect any complications as early as possible, minimize disability and prevent the disorder from progressing any further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n