Scleroderma
Causes ofscleroderma
Normally, the body'simmune system fights off any germs that infect the body. It responds like thisto anything in the body it doesn't recognise, and settles down when the infection has been cleared.
It's thought scleroderma occurs because part of the immune system has become overactive and out of control. Thisleads tocells in the connective tissue producing too much collagen,causing scarring and thickening (fibrosis) of the tissue.
It's not clear why this happens. Certain genes are thought to be involved, and having a close family member with the conditionmay increase your risk.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about scleroderma, including the different types, symptoms, causes and treatments.
Typesof scleroderma and typical symptoms
There are two main types of scleroderma: localised scleroderma just affects the skin systemic sclerosis may affect blood circulation and internal organs as well as the skin Localised scleroderma
Causes ofscleroderma
Normally, the body'simmune system fights off any germs that infect the body. It responds like thisto anything in the body it doesn't recognise, and settles down when the infection has been cleared. I
How scleroderma is treated
The aim of treatment is torelieve symptoms, prevent thecondition getting worse, detect and treat any complications (such as pulmonary hypertension ) and help you maintain the use of affected parts of
Living with scleroderma
There are many therapies and lifestyle changes that can help reduce the impact ofscleroderma on your life. Regular physiotherapy and stretching exercises may helpkeep your muscles supple and loosen t
Information about you
If you have scleroderma, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look for bett
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