Table of Contents
Is scleroderma a terminal?
It is the most fatal of all the rheumatologic diseases. Systemic scleroderma is very unpredictable although most cases can be classified into one of four different general patterns of disease (see Classification).
Can scleroderma go away?
A. Localized forms of scleroderma can improve or go away on their own over time, but the skin changes and damage that occur when the disease is active can be permanent.
Can scleroderma be cured?
Currently, there’s no cure for scleroderma, so doctors will find the treatments that work best to decrease the severity of the specific symptoms and manage or prevent additional complications.
Is scleroderma serious?
Not only can it affect the skin, but it also can affect many internal organs, hindering digestive and respiratory functions, and causing kidney failure. Systemic scleroderma can sometimes become serious and life-threatening.
What does a scleroderma rash look like?
These patches may be shaped like ovals or straight lines, or cover wide areas of the trunk and limbs. The number, location and size of the patches vary by type of scleroderma. Skin can appear shiny because it’s so tight, and movement of the affected area may be restricted.
Is scleroderma worse than lupus?
— Worse than in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have worse health-related quality of life than patients with other systemic rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a Korean study found.
Does scleroderma cause weight gain?
Acute localized scleroderma (morphea) can present as severe generalized oedema with rapid weight gain and oliguria.
How serious is scleroderma?
How serious is scleroderma? Any chronic disease can be serious. The symptoms of scleroderma vary greatly for each person, and the effects of scleroderma can range from very mild to life threatening. The seriousness will depend on the parts of the body, which are affected, and the extent to which they are affected.