Systematic Sclerosis
Systematic Sclerosis Causes
There is no clear obvious cause for systemic sclerosis. Genetic predisposition appears to be limited: genetic concordance is small; still, there is usually a familial predisposition for autoimmune disease. Polymorphisms in COL1A2 and TGF-?1 may influence severity and progression of the disease.
Systematic Sclerosis Definition
Scleroderma is a chronic disease marked by excessive deposits of collagen in the skin or other organs. The localized type of the disease, while disabling, does not tend to be fatal. The systemic type or systemic sclerosis, the generalized type of the disease, can be fatal as a result of heart, lung, kidney, or intestinal damage autoimmune disease.
Systematic Sclerosis Diagnosis
Diagnosis is by clinical suspicion, presence of autoantibodies (specifically anti-centromere and anti-scl70/anti-topoisomerase antibodies) and sometimes by biopsy.
Systematic Sclerosis Symptoms and Signs
Cutaneous symptoms, often linked or preceded by Raynaud's phenomenon and arthralgias of the fingers, are usually early signs in the course of SSc and therefore helpful for establishing the diagnosis and initiating therapy.
Systematic Sclerosis Treatment
Different treatment regimens are available for SSC. The therapeutic approach depends on the presentation of the disease and complexity of its symptoms.