Scleroderma (cont.)
What is the outlook (prognosis) for patients with
scleroderma?
A patient's prognosis is optimized with close monitoring of overall
health status and treatment of complications, especially elevated blood
pressure. Recent data indicates that the critical period of
organ risk is generally within the first three years of skin
involvement. This means that patients can be reassured that their
risk of organ-threatening complications is significantly less after
three years of having skin symptoms.
Much more research is needed in all areas of scleroderma
disease, from cause to treatment. Today scleroderma continues to baffle
medical scientists. Researchers are evaluating the
effectiveness of thalidomide for the treatment of scleroderma. More
sensitive tests to detect early lung disease of scleroderma are also
being evaluated. Psoralen and ultraviolet light therapy (PUVA) is being studied as
a possible treatment for limited scleroderma.
Many researchers are
investigating the roles of various cell messengers, called cytokines,
in causing scleroderma. Researchers are also currently studying a hormone of pregnancy,
called relaxin, for the treatment of scleroderma. Preliminary results suggest that
it may improve scleroderma. Relaxin normally loosens the ligaments of the pelvis and
ripens the womb for childbirth. How it might work in scleroderma is unclear.
- Scleroderma is a skin disease that is associated with illness
involving internal organs.
- Scleroderma is classified into diffuse and limited forms.
- CREST syndrome is a limited form of scleroderma.
- Patients with scleroderma can have antibodies in their blood which
suggest autoimmunity.
- Treatment of scleroderma is directed toward the individual feature(s)
that is(are) most troubling.
References: Clinical Primer of Rheumatology, Lippincott Williams & Wilkens, edited by William Koopman, et al., 2003.
Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, W B Saunders Co, edited by Shaun Ruddy, et al., 2000.
Last Editorial Review: 3/21/2008
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