Scleroderma: Education is the Key. By, Dana Tanner

Scleroderma is a disease that is in the process of being understood fully.

The more we know, the faster we can find a cure. What do we know? – No one knows what causes scleroderma. – It is a disease that causes an abnormal growth of connective tissue, the proteins that support your skin and organs. – There are two main types. Localized scleroderma affects only your skin. Systemic scleroderma affects your blood vessels and internal organs, as well as your skin. – There is no cure, but various treatments can relieve symptoms

There are people in the U.S. that don’t know they have Scleroderma. How can a person find out if they have Scleroderma? A diagnosis could take months as the disease develops and as the doctor tried to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms a person is having. The person’s doctor will use their medical history and a physical exam to determine a diagnosis. The doctor will order some laboratory tests. These tests will evaluate a persons blood counts and kidney function. The presence of certain antibodies in your blood can help confirm a suspected diagnosis. Although, the lab tests can help diagnose a person, with out physical symptoms it is hard to do so.

Treatment is different for each individual. No treatment had been proven effective at impacting the over production of collagen that creates scleroderma. However, several treatments are very effective at preventing and/or reducing organ damage from this disease. Because systemic sclerosis is a complicated disease that can affect many different organs, you may need to be treated by several different physicians at different times.

Learn more! You could help save a life! How has knowing more about Scleroderma helped today? We have learned that scleroderma is not contagious. While the amputation of fingers and toes is sometimes still unavoidable, these procedures are rarely necessary because of the availability of many new treatments that target specific tissues and nerves. Other health specialists become involved if particular organs are affected: for example, cardiologists for heart problems, pulmonologists for lung complications, and gastroenterologists for digestive tract issues.