Background
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by having the antibodies attack their own tissues, which is contrary to their main purpose of protecting it. That in turn would cause the affected area to thicken and its functions to be limited. The more common form of scleroderma which is limited scleroderma or CREST would tend not to be fatal, although it can cripple a patient. The severe from of it which it systemic scleroderma is the more fatal type.
Scleroderma is quite rare as it only affects 14 out of every 1 million people worldwide. Scleroderma affects women more than it affects men and is usually develops within the ages 30 and 50. This illness is inherent in African-American women and the Native American Choctaw tribe. It rarely occurs in northern Asians and in children.
What Are The Causes Of Scleroderma?
As of now, there is no accurate cause of scleroderma although medical experts suspect some factors to cause it. One of those factors is genetics; they say that scleroderma is in the genes and those with genetic defects are more susceptible to the disease. Another is an unhealthy environment that could expose a patient to some factors that may cause it such as bacteria, viruses and similar factors. Hormones could also play a role as to why it happens to more women than it does on men.
Another theory made by medical experts is that the fetal matter that is left over after pregnancy that is still circulating in the mother’s system can cause scleroderma even after years of giving birth. This is why the most common category for patients with scleroderma are women between ages 30 and 50. While these theories may be reasonable and logical, none of these are proven yet and they still remain as theories.
How Does Scleroderma Develop In The Elbows?
Scleroderma can occur in most parts of the body such as the skin, the lungs, kidneys, stomach, esophagus, intestines, heart and the bones however, the elbows are some of the most affected parts when it comes to scleroderma involvement. The thickening of the tissues in the elbow will bring about limitations in its movement and as well as can be accompanied by pain. The cause of this, which are most likely calcium deposits can actually be seen and felt.
The elbows are quite sensitive and can be affected even in limited scleroderma, especially the tips of the elbows called the olecranon area. If a patient’s elbows are affected by scleroderma, this can lead to discomforting irritation and tenderness if pressure is applied on the elbows. Fortunately, this is very possible to be treated.
How Can This Be Treated?
There is no known treatment for all cases of scleroderma. The approach for treating scleroderma is patient-specific and is more focused on preventing further damage and on treating individual symptoms. As for cases with elbow involvement, this can be treated with tropical lubricants and emollients. But if ever the patient would develop side effects or if these medications would not work at all, the patient can avail of alternative medicine.
One of the known alternative medicines that have proven effective in treating this condition is Bagbalm, this of which you would only apply to the tender areas of the affected area. Bagbalm is available over the counter and does not require any medical prescription.
Scleroderma Guides
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Cardiac Involvement In Scleroderma
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by toughening most commonly in the skin and could also happen to other organs. The mild form of this known as morphea, although it can cripple its patients would tend not to be fatal. Another form of this which is systemic sclerosis, since it would affect the skin as well as would limit the functions of the affected organs could be fatal. As of now, there is no exact cause of this disease and most doctors would go by theories.
Scleroderma is found worldwide however; women are about four times as likely to have it more than men. This would also develop mostly between the ages of 30 and 60. The disease is quite rare as affecting only 14 out of every 1 million individuals worldwide. This disease also rarely affects children. This disease is quite evident among the native American Choctaw tribe and African-American females.
What Causes Scleroderma?
The cause of scleroderma still remains unknown, although medical experts have developed various theories on the causes of it. Some have said that it is largely genetic so if an individual has scleroderma, he puts his relatives at risk of having it. Others would say that it is environmental and is brought about by unwanted factors in the environment such as virus, bacteria and other similar factors. However, non of these theories are proven yet.
The result of this is that the immune system, instead of protecting the body would attack the tissues in the body causing the development of scar tissue on the affected areas. Although different cases of scleroderma would cause different symptoms, the most common ones would be the Raynaud’s phenomenon which would refer to the spasms of arteries supplying blood to the fingers, toes and face. For systemic scleroderma, this is coupled by limitation in the organ’s function.
How Is The Heart Involved In Scleroderma?
Scleroderma makes the tissues in your heart tougher than in turn would limit its functions. If the heart gets involved with scleroderma, then there will be limitations to its function. This is characterized by myocardial disease, arrhythmias or conduction system abnormalities. Even if it is not the heart that would get affected but rather the kidneys or lungs, that could still cause a lot of heart problems, the most common being hypertension. Being that, the heart is one of the most involved organs in scleroderma.
One who gets scleroderma should be expecting some heart problems since the heart is largely involved in it. Fortunately, this can be managed with the help of some doctors. Although there is still no guarantee that a patient would be completely free of scleroderma after medications, medications are made to help patients go by difficult symptoms that are brought to them by scleroderma.
How Is Heart Involvement In Scleroderma Managed?
There is no treatment for scleroderma instead, the approach to this is patient-specific and would depend on what the specific circumstances are. For heart involvement, the doctor would make use of medications such as calcium channel blockers, nifedipine, nicardipine and bosentan. For children who have it, the approach to treating them is a combination therapy of methotrexate, corticosteroids and cyclosporine.
If these would cause side effects, then different medications are used depending on what would suit the patient specifically. Patients with Raynaud’s should be aware that these medications could worsen their condition.
Scleroderma is found worldwide however; women are about four times as likely to have it more than men. This would also develop mostly between the ages of 30 and 60. The disease is quite rare as affecting only 14 out of every 1 million individuals worldwide. This disease also rarely affects children. This disease is quite evident among the native American Choctaw tribe and African-American females.
What Causes Scleroderma?
The cause of scleroderma still remains unknown, although medical experts have developed various theories on the causes of it. Some have said that it is largely genetic so if an individual has scleroderma, he puts his relatives at risk of having it. Others would say that it is environmental and is brought about by unwanted factors in the environment such as virus, bacteria and other similar factors. However, non of these theories are proven yet.
The result of this is that the immune system, instead of protecting the body would attack the tissues in the body causing the development of scar tissue on the affected areas. Although different cases of scleroderma would cause different symptoms, the most common ones would be the Raynaud’s phenomenon which would refer to the spasms of arteries supplying blood to the fingers, toes and face. For systemic scleroderma, this is coupled by limitation in the organ’s function.
How Is The Heart Involved In Scleroderma?
Scleroderma makes the tissues in your heart tougher than in turn would limit its functions. If the heart gets involved with scleroderma, then there will be limitations to its function. This is characterized by myocardial disease, arrhythmias or conduction system abnormalities. Even if it is not the heart that would get affected but rather the kidneys or lungs, that could still cause a lot of heart problems, the most common being hypertension. Being that, the heart is one of the most involved organs in scleroderma.
One who gets scleroderma should be expecting some heart problems since the heart is largely involved in it. Fortunately, this can be managed with the help of some doctors. Although there is still no guarantee that a patient would be completely free of scleroderma after medications, medications are made to help patients go by difficult symptoms that are brought to them by scleroderma.
How Is Heart Involvement In Scleroderma Managed?
There is no treatment for scleroderma instead, the approach to this is patient-specific and would depend on what the specific circumstances are. For heart involvement, the doctor would make use of medications such as calcium channel blockers, nifedipine, nicardipine and bosentan. For children who have it, the approach to treating them is a combination therapy of methotrexate, corticosteroids and cyclosporine.
If these would cause side effects, then different medications are used depending on what would suit the patient specifically. Patients with Raynaud’s should be aware that these medications could worsen their condition.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Scleroderma And The Digestive System
Scleroderma is characterized by the toughening of the affected area, most commonly in the skin or in the organs which could lead to limitation of the organ’s function. This is quite rare as it only affects 14 out of every 1 million people worldwide. Scleroderma affects women more than it affects men and could develop somewhere between the ages of 30 to 50. It is also inherent in the Native American Choctaw tribe and in African-American women. Scleroderma is rarely found in children.
While cases of scleroderma that would only affect the skin would most likely not be fatal but could cripple the patient, the severe form of it which is called systemic scleroderma or is characterized by having scleroderma affect various parts of the body can be lethal and has been proven so in many cases. After the skin which is the most common case which would account for 95% to 100% of all cases, it is followed by gastro-intestinal involvement in scleroderma which would account for 70% to 90%
How Is The Digestive System Involved In Scleroderma?
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease. Being that, it mainly interferes with the immune system and having them attack the body instead of protecting it. Scleroderma can affect all organs of the digestive system, either just one organ or the entire system at the same time. It start with the esophagus; if scleroderma is present in the esophagus, then peristalsis is more difficult as the food track is tighter making it less able to push food down.
Gastro-intestinal involvement in scleroderma usually starts off with the esophagus and gradually makes its way down lower into the large intestine. If it makes its way past the stomach, then the patient will start having problems with digesting food. This is because the stomach now lacks blood vessels because it has been limited by scleroderma. Worst case scenario of this is that everything from the esophagus to the rectum would be affected. Unfortunately, this is very possible.
How Is This Treated?
As of today, there is no known cause for scleroderma and because of that, diagnosis is mainly based on symptoms. Doctors can start off by giving a patient medication to help ease him or her of the symptoms. These medications are given in attempt to lessen acid production but if that does not do anything, then procedures that are specific to the affected area are done to relieve a patient of discomforting symptoms.
Medications however are only given to relieve a patient from the effects brought about by scleroderma and not to entirely remove scleroderma from a patient. The cause of scleroderma is unknown and with that, there is no known medicine. Treatment for scleroderma is patient-specific even when it comes to gastro-intestinal involvement. This however can be managed effectively with the help of medical procedures.
How Is This Diagnosed?
If medications do not work or if a patient would develop side effects, then that is where one should have medical procedures. If the esophagus is affected, some medical procedures that can help would be endoscopy, barium swallow and esophageal manometry.
If the stomach is affected, then the patient could also have barium swallow which is similar the one referring to esophageal involvement and a gastric emptying study of which a person eats small amounts of material followed by taking x-rays of their stomach.
While cases of scleroderma that would only affect the skin would most likely not be fatal but could cripple the patient, the severe form of it which is called systemic scleroderma or is characterized by having scleroderma affect various parts of the body can be lethal and has been proven so in many cases. After the skin which is the most common case which would account for 95% to 100% of all cases, it is followed by gastro-intestinal involvement in scleroderma which would account for 70% to 90%
How Is The Digestive System Involved In Scleroderma?
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease. Being that, it mainly interferes with the immune system and having them attack the body instead of protecting it. Scleroderma can affect all organs of the digestive system, either just one organ or the entire system at the same time. It start with the esophagus; if scleroderma is present in the esophagus, then peristalsis is more difficult as the food track is tighter making it less able to push food down.
Gastro-intestinal involvement in scleroderma usually starts off with the esophagus and gradually makes its way down lower into the large intestine. If it makes its way past the stomach, then the patient will start having problems with digesting food. This is because the stomach now lacks blood vessels because it has been limited by scleroderma. Worst case scenario of this is that everything from the esophagus to the rectum would be affected. Unfortunately, this is very possible.
How Is This Treated?
As of today, there is no known cause for scleroderma and because of that, diagnosis is mainly based on symptoms. Doctors can start off by giving a patient medication to help ease him or her of the symptoms. These medications are given in attempt to lessen acid production but if that does not do anything, then procedures that are specific to the affected area are done to relieve a patient of discomforting symptoms.
Medications however are only given to relieve a patient from the effects brought about by scleroderma and not to entirely remove scleroderma from a patient. The cause of scleroderma is unknown and with that, there is no known medicine. Treatment for scleroderma is patient-specific even when it comes to gastro-intestinal involvement. This however can be managed effectively with the help of medical procedures.
How Is This Diagnosed?
If medications do not work or if a patient would develop side effects, then that is where one should have medical procedures. If the esophagus is affected, some medical procedures that can help would be endoscopy, barium swallow and esophageal manometry.
If the stomach is affected, then the patient could also have barium swallow which is similar the one referring to esophageal involvement and a gastric emptying study of which a person eats small amounts of material followed by taking x-rays of their stomach.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Scleroderma And The Kidneys
Scleroderma means hard skin when directly translated. It is a disease that would cause the surfaces of your skin and other organs to harden into scar tissue and would usually involve pain and a lot of problems that would involve the affected organs. Scleroderma is most common in women that are between the ages 30 to 60 and rarely happens to children.
At most times, scleroderma would only affect a portion of the skin and is usually visible by tight skin in the face and on the fingers. If it starts affecting the organs, then that is a more sever case known as systemic sclerosis. This may affect the lungs, heart, intestines and the kidney. If the kidney is affected by sclerosis, this would limit the kidney’s functions and as well could cause some pain to the patient. It could however be managed and dealt with medical approaches to scleroderma kidney involvement.
What Causes Scleroderma?
As of today, there is still no known cause for scleroderma. Medical experts however have developed numerous theories in attempt of knowing what the causes are. Some would say that it is largely genetic and that a patient of scleroderma would indicate that his or her relatives are also at danger of developing it. Another would say that it is largely environmental and that it is caused by factors that are influenced by the environment surrounding the patient.
A medical expert also theorized with the common category being women aged 30 to 60 as a basis that the fetal remnants left over that are still circulating in the bloodstream can cause sclerosis even after decades after giving birth. None of these theories however have been proven and as of now, the cause of sclerosis still remains unknown and is yet to be found.
How Does Scleroderma Affect The Kidneys?
While scleroderma would occur in the skin in around 95% of all cases, having it develop in the kidneys is also quite common for those who have it. Scleroderma mainly affects the blood vessels that are in the kidneys this of which is known as scleroderma renal crisis. This would lead to a sudden rise in blood pressure of the patient as well as a rapid decline in renal function that would happen over days. This may lead to complete renal failure that in turn can cause death.
Before, the leading cause of death for scleroderma victims was renal crisis. Fortunately, drugs of which are known as Angiotension Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or ACE inhibitors have lessened this number significantly and if that does not work, there are still other medications that would serve the purpose effectively. ACE inhibitors are also used commonly to treat high-blood pressure.
How Are Cases Concerning Kidneys Treated?
While scleroderma has no known cause, it also has no known cure. To relieve a patient from it, treatment for scleroderma would vary depending on the cases and on the individual. For cases concerning the kidneys, it focuses more on blood pressure control with the use of ACE inhibitors. As for people who develop side effects from it, they can use angiotensin receptor blockers. These are so effective and are known to have relieved a lot of patients from cases concerning kidneys.
These medicines however are only made to alleviate a patient from symptoms with the kidneys and are not made to completely relieve a patient from scleroderma.
At most times, scleroderma would only affect a portion of the skin and is usually visible by tight skin in the face and on the fingers. If it starts affecting the organs, then that is a more sever case known as systemic sclerosis. This may affect the lungs, heart, intestines and the kidney. If the kidney is affected by sclerosis, this would limit the kidney’s functions and as well could cause some pain to the patient. It could however be managed and dealt with medical approaches to scleroderma kidney involvement.
What Causes Scleroderma?
As of today, there is still no known cause for scleroderma. Medical experts however have developed numerous theories in attempt of knowing what the causes are. Some would say that it is largely genetic and that a patient of scleroderma would indicate that his or her relatives are also at danger of developing it. Another would say that it is largely environmental and that it is caused by factors that are influenced by the environment surrounding the patient.
A medical expert also theorized with the common category being women aged 30 to 60 as a basis that the fetal remnants left over that are still circulating in the bloodstream can cause sclerosis even after decades after giving birth. None of these theories however have been proven and as of now, the cause of sclerosis still remains unknown and is yet to be found.
How Does Scleroderma Affect The Kidneys?
While scleroderma would occur in the skin in around 95% of all cases, having it develop in the kidneys is also quite common for those who have it. Scleroderma mainly affects the blood vessels that are in the kidneys this of which is known as scleroderma renal crisis. This would lead to a sudden rise in blood pressure of the patient as well as a rapid decline in renal function that would happen over days. This may lead to complete renal failure that in turn can cause death.
Before, the leading cause of death for scleroderma victims was renal crisis. Fortunately, drugs of which are known as Angiotension Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or ACE inhibitors have lessened this number significantly and if that does not work, there are still other medications that would serve the purpose effectively. ACE inhibitors are also used commonly to treat high-blood pressure.
How Are Cases Concerning Kidneys Treated?
While scleroderma has no known cause, it also has no known cure. To relieve a patient from it, treatment for scleroderma would vary depending on the cases and on the individual. For cases concerning the kidneys, it focuses more on blood pressure control with the use of ACE inhibitors. As for people who develop side effects from it, they can use angiotensin receptor blockers. These are so effective and are known to have relieved a lot of patients from cases concerning kidneys.
These medicines however are only made to alleviate a patient from symptoms with the kidneys and are not made to completely relieve a patient from scleroderma.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Scleroderma Lung Disease
Background
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease which is mainly characterized as the development of scar tissue in various parts of the body. This is a result of damages caused when antibodies in the immune system attack the body’s tissues, which is contrary to its purpose of protecting the body from harmful substances. While the most common body part which is affected by scleroderma is the skin, the lungs are also quite commonly affected constituting about 80% of all cases of scleroderma.
Scleroderma lung disease and all the other complications brought about by it has emerged as the leading cause of fatalities in all cases of scleroderma. Considering that, everyone who has scleroderma should not take lung involvement lightly and should seek immediate medical attention. Lung involvement can occur in either limited or diffuse scleroderma, thus all patients with scleroderma should be aware of what could happen.
How Are The Lungs Involved In Scleroderma?
There is no known cause of scleroderma. What is known is only how scleroderma works and that it can affect a lot of organs including the lungs. Scleroderma usually starts off with the skin or the joints which called as calcinosis or Raynaud’s phenomenon. If the case goes worse, then scleroderma would begin spreading within the body. If it gets to the lungs, then that would be the beginning of lung involvement in scleroderma.
The first visible signs of scleroderma lung disease would be if you show the primary symptoms of scleroderma which is found on the skin and followed by shortness of breath and constant dry coughing without mucus. This in turn could bring about pulmonary hypertension and as well as many other lung diseases other than scleroderma.
Intersitial Lung Disease And Pulmonary Hypertension
Scarring and inflammation of the lungs is called interstitial lung disease or ILD. This can be suspected when the doctor would hear a crackling sound while examining with a stethoscope but is properly diagnosed when the lungs are tested by complete pulmonary function testing. After that, the amount of inflammation of the lungs will be measure by either a chest x-ray or a CT scan. Other processes that can be done are lung biopsy and HRCT
Pulmonary hypertension is brought about by the scarring of the lungs. Since blood vessels are attacked, blood flow to the lungs is limited causing the function of the lungs to be limited too. This in turn can also cause shortness of breath. Pulmonary hypertension is a completely different illness and should treatment for it should be different.
Treatment
Since all cases of scleroderma have no known treatment yet, there is also no known cure for it, although it can still be managed. Treatment for hypertension is more focused on preventing further damage and on attempting to restore organ function to normal, although this is considerably difficult. Treatment for lung involvement in scleroderma would include medications, therapies and surgeries.
While it can be treated with medical attention, it is still very important that the patient should also handle the case responsibly on his or her own. Some things that can be done to help are to stop smoking or to avoid passive smoke if you are not a smoker. Not only can smoke worsen a condition of lung involvement in scleroderma but it can also bring about a lot of different illnesses as well. It would also help if the patient keeps a healthy lifestyle.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease which is mainly characterized as the development of scar tissue in various parts of the body. This is a result of damages caused when antibodies in the immune system attack the body’s tissues, which is contrary to its purpose of protecting the body from harmful substances. While the most common body part which is affected by scleroderma is the skin, the lungs are also quite commonly affected constituting about 80% of all cases of scleroderma.
Scleroderma lung disease and all the other complications brought about by it has emerged as the leading cause of fatalities in all cases of scleroderma. Considering that, everyone who has scleroderma should not take lung involvement lightly and should seek immediate medical attention. Lung involvement can occur in either limited or diffuse scleroderma, thus all patients with scleroderma should be aware of what could happen.
How Are The Lungs Involved In Scleroderma?
There is no known cause of scleroderma. What is known is only how scleroderma works and that it can affect a lot of organs including the lungs. Scleroderma usually starts off with the skin or the joints which called as calcinosis or Raynaud’s phenomenon. If the case goes worse, then scleroderma would begin spreading within the body. If it gets to the lungs, then that would be the beginning of lung involvement in scleroderma.
The first visible signs of scleroderma lung disease would be if you show the primary symptoms of scleroderma which is found on the skin and followed by shortness of breath and constant dry coughing without mucus. This in turn could bring about pulmonary hypertension and as well as many other lung diseases other than scleroderma.
Intersitial Lung Disease And Pulmonary Hypertension
Scarring and inflammation of the lungs is called interstitial lung disease or ILD. This can be suspected when the doctor would hear a crackling sound while examining with a stethoscope but is properly diagnosed when the lungs are tested by complete pulmonary function testing. After that, the amount of inflammation of the lungs will be measure by either a chest x-ray or a CT scan. Other processes that can be done are lung biopsy and HRCT
Pulmonary hypertension is brought about by the scarring of the lungs. Since blood vessels are attacked, blood flow to the lungs is limited causing the function of the lungs to be limited too. This in turn can also cause shortness of breath. Pulmonary hypertension is a completely different illness and should treatment for it should be different.
Treatment
Since all cases of scleroderma have no known treatment yet, there is also no known cure for it, although it can still be managed. Treatment for hypertension is more focused on preventing further damage and on attempting to restore organ function to normal, although this is considerably difficult. Treatment for lung involvement in scleroderma would include medications, therapies and surgeries.
While it can be treated with medical attention, it is still very important that the patient should also handle the case responsibly on his or her own. Some things that can be done to help are to stop smoking or to avoid passive smoke if you are not a smoker. Not only can smoke worsen a condition of lung involvement in scleroderma but it can also bring about a lot of different illnesses as well. It would also help if the patient keeps a healthy lifestyle.
Sclerosis And Joints
Sclerosis is when the skin’s surface would suddenly turn into scar tissue or when one would suddenly experience different problems with internal organs that are brought about when an individual’s immune system would start attacking the tissue of that same body. The most visible symptoms of sclerosis is to have some affected areas in the skin however, to know if one is affected, he or she should get diagnosed by a doctor.
Sclerosis is more common in women than it is in men and is rarely found in children. It also happens between the ages of 30 to 60. While sclerosis would affect the skin as well as some organs, it is also notorious for causing a lot of its victims joint pain. Sclerosis could make its victims have dry joints or make the joint movement more limited and in severe cases, it could cripple the victim.
What Causes It?
So far, the cause for sclerosis has never been identified although medical experts have resulted to developing various theories for the cause of sclerosis. Some medical experts would say that sclerosis is very much genetic; having a case of sclerosis in the family would mean that everyone else is at danger of developing it. Some would also say that it is largely environmental and is mainly caused by factors that can be picked up from the environment.
Basing on the common category this would affect which are women in between the ages 30 to 60, some medical experts have thought that the reason behind scleroderma are the fetal remnants left over that are still circulating in the mother’s bloodstream. They say that even after decades after birth, these could still cause scleroderma. This however is yet to be proven and is not backed by sufficient evidence. Even with the main cause of scleroderma being unknown, a lot of cases have still been managed and treated effectively with the use of medications and other methods.
How Does It Affect Joints?
Scleroderma would affect different organs and body parts differently, the only common thing with how it would affect them is that it would cause the patient pain and would limit the activities of the affected area. As for joints, they become less flexible and would cause sharp pain similar to rheumatism or arthritis. This could also lead to the patient being crippled over time if the symptoms do not improve in time.
This is because the antibodies are attacking the bone itself and could also be attacking the nearby muscles depending on the case. If you would get diagnosed with an x-ray, it would show that the bone is whiter than it should be, that of which indicates degeneration in the bone. If that is so, then that degeneration is expected to get worse by the moment until the bone is very brittle and could later start cracking.
How Is It Treated?
With the cause of scleroderma being yet unknown, there is also no single drug that would cure all cases of it. Treatment for scleroderma is specific depending on the case and on the patient as for joint problems, this is usually done first by having it diagnosed with joint x-rays and if it is confirmed that the bones are affected by scleroderma, the patient then will undergo physical therapy for them to be able to manage having limited movement.
Sclerosis is more common in women than it is in men and is rarely found in children. It also happens between the ages of 30 to 60. While sclerosis would affect the skin as well as some organs, it is also notorious for causing a lot of its victims joint pain. Sclerosis could make its victims have dry joints or make the joint movement more limited and in severe cases, it could cripple the victim.
What Causes It?
So far, the cause for sclerosis has never been identified although medical experts have resulted to developing various theories for the cause of sclerosis. Some medical experts would say that sclerosis is very much genetic; having a case of sclerosis in the family would mean that everyone else is at danger of developing it. Some would also say that it is largely environmental and is mainly caused by factors that can be picked up from the environment.
Basing on the common category this would affect which are women in between the ages 30 to 60, some medical experts have thought that the reason behind scleroderma are the fetal remnants left over that are still circulating in the mother’s bloodstream. They say that even after decades after birth, these could still cause scleroderma. This however is yet to be proven and is not backed by sufficient evidence. Even with the main cause of scleroderma being unknown, a lot of cases have still been managed and treated effectively with the use of medications and other methods.
How Does It Affect Joints?
Scleroderma would affect different organs and body parts differently, the only common thing with how it would affect them is that it would cause the patient pain and would limit the activities of the affected area. As for joints, they become less flexible and would cause sharp pain similar to rheumatism or arthritis. This could also lead to the patient being crippled over time if the symptoms do not improve in time.
This is because the antibodies are attacking the bone itself and could also be attacking the nearby muscles depending on the case. If you would get diagnosed with an x-ray, it would show that the bone is whiter than it should be, that of which indicates degeneration in the bone. If that is so, then that degeneration is expected to get worse by the moment until the bone is very brittle and could later start cracking.
How Is It Treated?
With the cause of scleroderma being yet unknown, there is also no single drug that would cure all cases of it. Treatment for scleroderma is specific depending on the case and on the patient as for joint problems, this is usually done first by having it diagnosed with joint x-rays and if it is confirmed that the bones are affected by scleroderma, the patient then will undergo physical therapy for them to be able to manage having limited movement.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Systemic Sclerosis: Background, Diagnosis And Treatment
Definition
Scleroderma comes mainly in two forms, the localized form of which would only affect a single area and another from which would affect internal organs known as systemic sclerosis. The localized form is also known as “morphea” and although it could disable a patient, it would not be fatal most of the time. Systematic sclerosis however, since it interferes with the internal organs and their functions would be fatal most of the time. Common cases of death from systemic sclerosis are renal and lung related cases.
Scleroderma occurs when your antibodies would attack your tissues instead of protecting them that in turn would lead to the development of scar tissue on the affected areas or thicken it. Women are four times more likely to develop this disease than men are and it usually develops within 30 to 40 years of age. This disease is inherent in the Native American Choctaw race and African-American women and rarely occurs to North Asians. It also rarely occurs in children.
What Can Cause Systemic Sclerosis?
It is known that scleroderma is an autoimmune disease however, only part of the pathogenesis is understood and because of that, medical experts have developed various theories that would refer to the causes of scleroderma. One theory would say that scleroderma is largely environmental and is brought about by unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria and viruses while another would say that it is genetic and with that, heredity plays a big role.
Some of the substances which are suspected to cause scleroderma are insecticides, epoxy resin, appetite suppressants, silicone implants, drugs and some amino acid compounds. One medical expert also said that the fetal matter left after pregnancy that is still running in the bloodstream can also cause systemic scleroderma. These theories however are not yet proven.
What Can Happen To A Systemic Sclerosis Patient?
A patient with systemic sclerosis can have limited functions in various organs at the same time, most of the time being with the heart, kidneys and lungs. With that, a patient will also show the illness through some visible factors that can be seen especially in the face, neck, fingers, elbows, knees and toenails. If not managed effectively, systemic sclerosis can spread onto other organs or could develop into another disease other than scleroderma.
When it comes to systemic sclerosis, renal and lung related problems are usually the common causes for mortalities. Pulmonary hypertension, which is one of the most common causes of deaths in systemic sclerosis accounts for about 12% of all deaths.
How Can Systemic Sclerosis Be Treated?
Since the cause of scleroderma is not yet known, there is also no known medication for scleroderma instead, the approach for treating systemic sclerosis is patient specific and would depend on which organs are affected by it. Treatment is also focused for limiting the damages done by scleroderma and for alleviating symptoms rather than completely remove scleroderma from a patient.
Treatment is usually done by medications that would vary depending on the case and on which organs are affected. Alternative medications are also given to people who cannot be helped or would develop side effects from the medications that were first taken. For some cases especially for those having problems with organ function, they would have to undergo therapy that would attempt to restore normal organ activity.
Scleroderma comes mainly in two forms, the localized form of which would only affect a single area and another from which would affect internal organs known as systemic sclerosis. The localized form is also known as “morphea” and although it could disable a patient, it would not be fatal most of the time. Systematic sclerosis however, since it interferes with the internal organs and their functions would be fatal most of the time. Common cases of death from systemic sclerosis are renal and lung related cases.
Scleroderma occurs when your antibodies would attack your tissues instead of protecting them that in turn would lead to the development of scar tissue on the affected areas or thicken it. Women are four times more likely to develop this disease than men are and it usually develops within 30 to 40 years of age. This disease is inherent in the Native American Choctaw race and African-American women and rarely occurs to North Asians. It also rarely occurs in children.
What Can Cause Systemic Sclerosis?
It is known that scleroderma is an autoimmune disease however, only part of the pathogenesis is understood and because of that, medical experts have developed various theories that would refer to the causes of scleroderma. One theory would say that scleroderma is largely environmental and is brought about by unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria and viruses while another would say that it is genetic and with that, heredity plays a big role.
Some of the substances which are suspected to cause scleroderma are insecticides, epoxy resin, appetite suppressants, silicone implants, drugs and some amino acid compounds. One medical expert also said that the fetal matter left after pregnancy that is still running in the bloodstream can also cause systemic scleroderma. These theories however are not yet proven.
What Can Happen To A Systemic Sclerosis Patient?
A patient with systemic sclerosis can have limited functions in various organs at the same time, most of the time being with the heart, kidneys and lungs. With that, a patient will also show the illness through some visible factors that can be seen especially in the face, neck, fingers, elbows, knees and toenails. If not managed effectively, systemic sclerosis can spread onto other organs or could develop into another disease other than scleroderma.
When it comes to systemic sclerosis, renal and lung related problems are usually the common causes for mortalities. Pulmonary hypertension, which is one of the most common causes of deaths in systemic sclerosis accounts for about 12% of all deaths.
How Can Systemic Sclerosis Be Treated?
Since the cause of scleroderma is not yet known, there is also no known medication for scleroderma instead, the approach for treating systemic sclerosis is patient specific and would depend on which organs are affected by it. Treatment is also focused for limiting the damages done by scleroderma and for alleviating symptoms rather than completely remove scleroderma from a patient.
Treatment is usually done by medications that would vary depending on the case and on which organs are affected. Alternative medications are also given to people who cannot be helped or would develop side effects from the medications that were first taken. For some cases especially for those having problems with organ function, they would have to undergo therapy that would attempt to restore normal organ activity.
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