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 Scleroderma
is a chronic, degenerative disorder of the body's connective
tissue that is most serious when affecting internal organs causing
severe damage and serious complications for the body's digestive,
respiratory, circulatory, and immune systems. Hundreds of
thousands of people who are living with scleroderma and related
conditions continue to wait for a cure. The Scleroderma
Foundation and Scleroderma Research Foundation are nonprofit
organizations dedicated to saving lives through scleroderma
research, education, and awareness. To help raise public
awareness, the Scleroderma Foundation and the Scleroderma Research
Foundation have declared June as "Scleroderma Awareness Month".
Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a
chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of
the autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
The word “scleroderma” comes from two Greek
words: “sclero” meaning hard, and “derma” meaning skin. Hardening
of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the
disease. The disease has been called “progressive systemic
sclerosis,” but the use of that term has been discouraged since it
has been found that scleroderma is not necessarily progressive.
The disease may take several forms which will be explained later.
There is also much variability among patients.
What scleroderma is not.
Scleroderma is not contagious, it is not
infectious, it is not cancerous or malignant.
How serious is scleroderma?
Any chronic disease can be serious. The
symptoms of scleroderma vary greatly from individual to
individual, and the effects of scleroderma can range from very
mild to life-threatening. The seriousness will depend on what
parts of the body are affected and the extent to which they are
affected. A mild case can become more serious if not properly
treated. Prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment by qualified
physicians may minimize the symptoms of scleroderma and lessen the
chance for irreversible damage.
Who develops scleroderma, and when?
It is estimated that there are approximately
300,000 persons with scleroderma in the United States, including
80,000 to 100,000 with the systemic form and the rest with the
localized form. International incidence is unknown, but it has
been reported worldwide. Statistically, approximately three to
four times more women than men develop the disease. Scleroderma
can develop and is found in every age group from infants to the
elderly, but its onset is most frequent between the ages of 25 to
55.
Factors other than sex, such as race and
ethnic background, may influence the risk of getting scleroderma,
the age of onset, and the pattern or severity of internal organ
involvement. The reasons for this are not clear. Although
scleroderma is not directly inherited, some scientists feel there
is a slight predisposition to it in families with a history of
rheumatic diseases.
What causes scleroderma?
The exact cause or causes of scleroderma are
still unknown, but scientists and medical investigators in a wide
variety of fields are working hard to make those determinations.
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