What is the root cause of scleroderma?
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes the abnormal collagen production to begin, but the body’s immune system appears to play a role. Most likely, scleroderma is caused by a combination of factors, including immune system problems, genetics and environmental triggers.
Which is worse scleroderma or 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.
What are the first signs of scleroderma?
The most common symptom of scleroderma disease is a hardening or tightening of patches of skin, however, one of the first signs of scleroderma is an exaggerated reaction to cold temperatures or emotional distress, which can cause numbness, pain or discoloration of the fingers or toes.
What do you need to know about scleroderma?
Symptoms. Scleroderma can cause swelling of the hands and thickened skin on the fingers.
What are symptoms of scleroderma?
Scleroderma means “hard skin.”. Early symptoms of scleroderma include changes in the fingers and hands, for example, stiffness, tightness, and puffiness because of sensitivity to cold or emotional stress.
What is the prognosis for scleroderma?
The prognosis of scleroderma depends on the real situation of the patient. The common length of survival for patients with scleroderma after diagnosis is 5-10 years. According to the study, the 5-year survival rate for patients with scleroderma is about 85%, whereas the 10-year survival rate is less than 70%.