Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a serious, progressive (worsening) disease that affects the skin and connective tissue (including cartilage, bone, fat, and the tissue thatsupports the nerves and blood vessels throughout the body). Scleroderma is also frequently called systemic sclerosis.

Connective tissue is found throughout the body. It is a fibrous tissue produced by special cells called fibroblasts. Many cells of the immune system existwithin the connective tissue. Connective tissue supports all of the structures of the body, including the skin, the organs, and all of the body's blood vessels and nerves. Collagen is a type of protein fiber present in connectivetissue.

In scleroderma, collagen is over produced and is defective. Collagen then accumulates throughout the body, causing the hardening (sclerosis), scarring (fibrosis), and the damage characteristic of scleroderma. Because collagen is found so widely throughout the body, the effects of scleroderma are almost always widespread.

Scleroderma occurs in all races of people all over the world. Patients are most often diagnosed between the ages of 30-50 years old. Women are three to four times more likely to suffer from the disorder. Young Afro-American women and Choctaw Native Americans have particularly high rates of the disease. Although some cases of scleroderma clearly run in families, most cases of scleroderma occur without any known family tendency for the disease.

The cause of scleroderma remains puzzling. Although the accumulation of collagen appears to be a hallmark of the disease, doctors do not know why this happens. Some theories suggest that damage to blood vessels may occur prior to fibrosis. When blood vessels are damaged, the tissues of the body receive an inadequate amount of oxygen (a condition called ischemia). Some researchers believe that tissue ischemia and damage then causes the immune system to over react, creating an autoimmune disorder. The immune system is designed to produce antibodies--cells that fight foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, andfungi. In this theory of scleroderma, the immune system gears up to fight aninvader, but no invader is actually present. Instead, antibodies mistake thebody's own tissues for foreign tissue. The immune system cells turn against the already damaged blood vessels and then the vessels' supporting tissues. These immune cells are designed to deliver potent chemicals in order to kill foreign invaders. Some of these cells dump these chemicals on the body's own tissues instead, causing inflammation, swelling, damage, and scarring.

Most cases of scleroderma occur with no recognizable initiating event. Some cases, however, have been traced to poisonous (toxic) exposures. For example,coal miners and gold miners (both of whom have a lot of exposure to silica dust) have higher than normal rates of scleroderma. Other types of chemicals that have been associated with scleroderma include polyvinyl chloride, benzine,toluene, and epoxy resins. In 1981, 20,000 people in Spain were stricken with a syndrome similar to scleroderma when a toxic substance accidentally contaminated cooking oil. Some claims of a scleroderma-like illness have been madeby women with silicone breast implants.

About 95% of all patients with scleroderma have a condition called Raynaud'sdisease as their first symptom. In Raynaud's disease, the blood vessels of the fingers and/or toes (the digits) react abnormally to cold. The vessels clamp down, preventing blood flow to the end of the digit and, eventually, to theentire digit. The affected digit turns white, then blue, then red when it begins to get blood. Numbness, tingling, and pain are associated with this entire process. Over time, oxygen deprivation to these tissues may result in open, irritated pits (ulcers) in the surface of the skin. These ulcers can lead to tissue death (gangrene) and loss of the digit. These extreme symptoms of Raynaud's disease rarely occur, except when Raynaud's is associated with otherconditions like scleroderma. When Raynaud's disease leads to scleroderma, thenext symptoms are usually seen within two years of the first sign of Raynaud's.

Involvement of the skin leads to swelling underneath the skin of the hands, feet, legs, arms, and face. This is followed by thickening and tightening of the skin, which becomes taut and shiny. When this tightening is severe, it maycause deformity. For example, skin tightening on the hands may cause the fingers to become permanently curled (flexed), with no ability to straighten them. Structures within the skin are damaged (including those producing hair, oil, and sweat), and skin becomes dry and scaly. Ulcers may form, with the danger of infection. Calcium deposits often appear under the skin (calcinosis).

As the skin grows tight on the face, the mouth and nose become smaller. The small mouth may interfere with eating and caring for the teeth. Blood vesselsunder the skin may become enlarged and obvious through the skin, appearing aspurplish marks (telangiectasis).

Muscle weakness, joint pain and stiffness, and carpal tunnel syndrome are common. Carpal tunnel syndrome involves scarring in the wrist, which puts pressure on the median nerve running through that area. This causes numbness, tingling, and weakness of some of the fingers.

The tube leading from the mouth to the stomach (the esophagus) becomes stiffand scarred. Patients may experience difficulty swallowing food. The acidic contents of the stomach may be allowed to flow backwards into the esophagus (esophageal reflux), causing severe symptoms of heartburn. Inflammation of theesophagus may occur (esophagitis).

The intestine becomes sluggish in processing food, causing bloating and pain.Foods are improperly processed, resulting in diarrhea, weight loss, and anemia. Telangiectasis developing in the stomach or intestine may cause rupture and bleeding.

The lungs are affected in about 66% of all patients with scleroderma. Complications include shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty breathing due to tightening of the tissue around the chest, inflammation of the air sacs of the lung (alveolitis), increased chance of pneumonia, and an increased risk of cancer. All of these have made lung disease the most likely cause of death in scleroderma.

The lining around the heart (pericardium) may become inflamed (pericarditis).The heart may have an increasing amount of difficulty pumping blood effectively (heart failure). Irregular heart rhythms and enlargement of the heart also occur in scleroderma.

Kidney disease is a common complication. Damage to blood vessels of the kidneys is often responsible for a huge spike in blood pressure, called malignanthypertension. The blood pressure may be so high that the patient suffers fromswelling of the brain, with an extreme headache, damage to the retinas of the eyes, seizures, and failure of the heart to pump blood into the body's circulatory system. The kidneys may also stop filtering blood appropriately, leading to kidney failure. Treatments for high blood pressure and these kidney complications have greatly improved. Prior to these treatments, kidney problemswere the most common cause of death for patients with scleroderma.

Other problems associated with scleroderma include painful dryness of the eyes and mouth, a low functioning thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), difficulty ofmale patients to achieve/sustain an erection of the penis, and enlargement and destruction of the liver.

Diagnosis involves recognizing the relatively unique characteristics of scleroderma symptoms. However, some of these symptoms can accompany other connective tissue diseases. Some nonspecific laboratory tests that may indicate an inflammatory disorder (but not specifically scleroderma) include:

  • Elevated results from a special red blood cell test erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
  • Decreased red blood cell count (anemia)
  • Positive tests forcertain antibodies (including rheumatoid factor, anti-Scl-70 antibodies, anticentrometre antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies).

Other tests can be performed to evaluate the extent of the disease. These caninclude:

  • A test that reveals information about the electrical systemof the heart (an electrocardiogram)
  • Lung function tests
  • X-ray studies of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Various blood tests to study kidney functions.

There is no cure for scleroderma. A drug called D-penicillamine has been usedto interfere with the defective collagen. It is believed to help decrease the degree of skin thickening and tightening, and to slow the progress of the disease in other organs. Steroid medications have been used to interfere withthe inflammatory process in scleroderma. Other drugs have been studied that reduce the activity of the immune system (immunosuppressants), including azathioprine, colchicine, interferon, and 5-fluorouracil. Because they can have serious side effects, these medications are only used for the most severe casesof scleroderma.

The various complications of scleroderma are treated individually. Raynaud'sdisease requires that patients try to keep their hands and feet warm constantly, and avoid situations where they will be exposed to cold temperatures. Thick ointments and creams are used to treat dry skin. Exercise and massage mayhelp joint involvement, and may help patients retain more movement despite skin tightening. Skin ulcers will need prompt attention and may require antibiotics. Patients with esophageal reflux will be advised to eat small meals moreoften. They should also avoid foods that may make the reflux worse, like spicy foods and caffeine-containing items like coffee, tea, and chocolate. Medications may be given to treat heartburn. Patients must be monitored for the development of high blood pressure, and promptly and aggressively treated withappropriate medications. When fluid accumulates due to heart failure, diuretic medications can be given to help get rid of the excess fluid.

The prognosis for patients with scleroderma varies. Some patients, in fact, have a very limited form of the disease and only their skin is affected. Thisis called morphea. These patients have a very good prognosis. Other patientswith a cluster of symptoms called the CREST syndrome also have a relatively good prognosis. CREST stands for:

  • C=Calcinosis
  • R=Raynaud's disease
  • E=Esophageal dysmotility (stiffness and malfunctioning of the esophagus)
  • S=Sclerodactyly (thick, hard, rigid skin over the fingers)
  • T=Telangiectasis.

In general, patients with very widespread skin involvement have the worse prognosis. This level of disease seems to be accompanied by involvement of otherorgans and the most severe complications. Although women are more commonly stricken with scleroderma, males more often die of the disease. The most common causes of death include heart, kidney, and lung diseases. About 65% of allpatients survive 10 years or more following a diagnosis of scleroderma.

There are no known ways to prevent scleroderma. People can try to decrease exposure to those substances associated with high rates of the disease. These include silica dust, polyvinyl chloride, benzine, toluene, epoxy resins, and silicone breast implants.

User Contributions:

1
Judi Brankacz
I am on the verge of being diagnosed with scleroderma after also being treated for fibromyaliga. I have many of the symptoms and only have skin problems on my feet and don't yet have the tight skin. any where else. I have had some very bad thick skin on my feet that peels breaks an bleeds with deep cracks. Only one cream helps it. I have had a history of pelvic adhesions that were so dense that MRI and CAT scans can't penetrate. My mouth has been so dry I can't swallow and my eyes feel like they have sand in them most of the time. My question is how much pain is involved with scleroderma?? I am currently taking a small ammount of hydrocodone apa and don't want to be drug addicited.My pain has gotten a lot worse over the summer and I have diffuclity standing up and sometimes walking. What else can you tell me??
2
ezat
I was wandering if could you to send me about what kind food i can have?
I have had cancer and at the moment I am saffering of scleroderma.
I am so sorry if I could'nt right very well because English is my second langauge.
thank you so much to help me.

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