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Overview
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Conditions
Collagen vascular disease
Scleroderma

Scleroderma

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An autoimmune disease in which there is excessive thickening of the connective tissues. This can cause skin tightening, rash, difficulty swallowing, and in severe cases can affect the kidneys and other organs.

Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this

39 year experience in Internal Medicine

Is a type of:

Skin conditions • Raynaud's disease • Raynaud phenomenon • Connective tissue disease • Esophageal motility disorders • Collagen vascular disease

How long it usually lasts:

Chronic (lasts years to lifelong)

How common it is:

Rare
Baby
0-2
Rare
Preteen
6-13
Rare
Teenager
14-18
Rare
Young adult
19-40
Very common
Middle-aged adult
41-60
Very common

How it can usually be treated?

Incurable but treatment can help

How is it usually diagnosed?

Requires diagnosis by a medical professional

Body locations

Skin

Types of

Morphea
Condition
Circumscribed scleroderma
Condition
CREST syndrome
Condition

Symptoms

Joint pains
Muscle pain
Dry cough
Bloating or abdominal fullness
Heartburn
Load more

Medications

Ratings show how effective doctors think these medications are at treating Scleroderma
Cyclophosphamide
2.9
12 reviews
Prednisone
2.5
15 reviews
Aspirin
2.2
22 reviews
Isosorbide dinitrate
2
11 reviews
Azathioprine
1.9
9 reviews
Load more

Other treatments

Rehydration
Wound care
Supportive care
Watchful waiting
Lifestyle changes
Load more

Tests

Electrocardiogram
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Microscopic urinalysis
C reactive protein
ANA
Load more

Related questions

A 21-year old asked:

What is scleroderma?

3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old asked:

Who gets scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old asked:

What causes scleroderma in people?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old asked:

How will my scleroderma be treated?

3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old asked:

What can I do to treat scleroderma?

3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

How do people with scleroderma look?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

How many people die from scleroderma?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

Anyone know anything about scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old asked:

What are signs, symptoms of scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old asked:

What are common symptoms of scleroderma?

1 doctor answer • 8 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

What are the 1st symptoms of scleroderma?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

How does scleroderma progress over time?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 29-year old asked:

What are the possible symptoms of scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old asked:

What part of the body does scleroderma effect?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 33-year old asked:

If it is scleroderma, is it a lifelong dilemma?

3 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A 33-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: Scleroderma?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 38-year old female asked:

Besides medication, how do you treat scleroderma flare ups?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old asked:

What are the first symptoms of someone with scleroderma has?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old female asked:

What are some of the causes of systemic scleroderma flare ups?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 21-year old asked:

What is the difference between limited and diffuse scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 81-year old asked:

How do you treat scleroderma? Is it ever cured? Does it spread?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 22-year old female asked:

How csn we differniate between limited and diffuse scleroderma?

3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 46-year old asked:

What to do if I am having trouble finding alot of information on scleroderma. anyone outthere have this disease?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 18-year old female asked:

Is Scleroderma preventable?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

What is morphea also scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

What is scleroderma crest variant?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 48-year old female asked:

Can you get scleroderma and lupus?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old female asked:

Who is the top guru for scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 53-year old female asked:

Is psoriasis the same as scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old asked:

What are the early signs of scleroderma?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

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