Scleroderma - Symptoms & Treatment

Scleroderma is an characterised by autoimmune disease that leads to connective tissues and tightening and hardening of the skin. Scleroderma is called both a rheumatic (roo-MA-tik) disease and a connective tissue disease. Scleroderma occurs in 3 to 4 times as many women as men, especially those between ages 30 and 50. This disease is a group of other arthritic diseases which are known as connective tissue disorders. It can mainly found in women than in men. It can also affect the adults than children.

Symptoms of Scleroderma

Scleroderma is characterized by diffuse fibrosis, degenerative changes, and vascular changes in the skin, particular structures, and internal organs. Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Numbness, pain or color changes in your fingers, toes, cheeks, nose and ears, often brought on by cold or emotional distress (Raynaud's phenomenon)
• Stiffness or pain in your joints and curling of your fingers
• Digestive problems ranging from poor absorption of nutrients to delayed movement of food due to impaired muscular activity in your intestine
• Sores over joints, such as your elbows and knuckles
• Puffy hands and feet, particularly in the morning.
• Hardness and thickness of skin.
• Changes in color of toes, nose, fingers, cheeks and ears.
• Pain and numbness in skin
• Severe pain in joints
• Stiffness in joints
• Sores over joints like knuckles or elbows
• Puffy feet and hands in the morning
• Digestive problems

Causes of Scleroderma

Collagen is a fibrous type of protein that makes up your body's connective tissues, including your skin. The cause of sclerodenna is unknown, but some possible causes include:

• Systemic exposure to silica dust or polyvinyl chloride
• Anticancer agents, such as bleomycin (Blenoxane), or nonopioid analgesics such as pentazocine (Talwin)
• Fibrosis due to an abnormal immune system response.
• The immune system has played major role in abnormal collagen production.
• Underlying vascular cause with tissue changes initiated by a persistent perfusion. For example, in some patients, muscles and joints become fibrotic.

Treatment of Scleroderma

Treatment aims to preserve normal body functions, minimize complications and may include:

• Immunosuppressants, including such common palliative drugs as cyclosporine (Neoral) and chlorambucil.
• Antacids to reduce total add level in GI tract; omeprazole , a proton-pump inhibitor to block the formation of gastric add, periodic dilation, and a soft, bland diet for esophagitis with stricture
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat small-bowel involvement with erythromycin or tetracycline to counteract the bacterial overgrowth in the duodenum and jejunum related to hypomotility
• Short-term benefit from vasodilators, such as nifedipine and hydralazine , to decrease contractility and oxygen demand and cause vasodilation.
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to preserve renal function (early intervention in renal crisis)
• Physical therapy to maintain function and promote muscle strength, heat therapy to relieve joint stiffness and occupational therapy to help performance of daily activities easier.