Monday 31 January 2011

Scleroderma and The Heart

Scleroderma Affecting The Heart

While the skin is the most affected organ in cases of scleroderma, almost all cases of complications in scleroderma would lead to heart problems even if the heart itself is not involved in scleroderma. If the lungs or the kidneys are involved, this could lead to hypertension and other heart complications. While that could happen, things are even worse when the heart itself is affected by scleroderma as its purpose of pumping blood is limited by the thickening of the walls.

Some of the earliest symptoms of cardiac involvement in scleroderma are heart irregularities that involve high blood pressure, fatigue and shortness of breath that could also lead to myocardial infarction or heart failure. While the heart is largely involved with most cases of scleroderma, having cardiac involvement in scleroderma is one of the rarest cases of the illness.

Who Can Get This?

There are no known causes for scleroderma however; reports have shown that scleroderma can affect all people regardless of any classifications although it is more likely to appear on others than it is on some. Women are four times more likely to develop this than men and it usually comes out between the ages 30 and 50. It is also commonly found in races such as the Native American Choctaw race and African-American women and rarely happens among Chinese, Japanese and Koreans.

Since there is no known cause, various theories have been formulated by medical experts. Some would say that scleroderma is genetic and heredity would play a large role. Some have also said that it is environmental and is brought about by unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria and viruses. One also said that the fetal matter left after pregnancy can cause it even after decades after giving birth. None of these theories however have been proven yet.

How Does This Develop?

This would start when the antibodies would attack the heart tissues instead of protecting it. This would then cause the development of scar tissue on the walls of the heart or what is called fibrosis. The walls of the heart then would become thicker and with that, blood supply to the heart is cut short limiting the functions of the heart. This would then start of as high-blood pressure or other reasonably mild heart problems then can set off later as further complications.

While having the heart involved in scleroderma is quite rare, it is also one of the most difficult to handle when compared to other cases of scleroderma. But even if it is difficult to handle, treatment for it with the use of medications, therapies or surgery for some have relieved some patients before of the symptoms brought about by it. Treatment for cardiac involvement in scleroderma is possible.

Can This Be Treated?

As of now, there is no known cure for scleroderma. Treatment for all cases of scleroderma is more focused on limiting damage and treating symptoms brought about by it. If the heart gets involved with scleroderma, the patient can have some medications, therapies or surgery. Some medications that can be taken are immunosuppressive agents which limit the damaging effects of the body’s immune system.

Patients who have cardiac involvement in scleroderma should have their heart rates monitored often and kept at a healthy pace. While all of these would help, a patient would also need to change lifestyle. The change of lifestyle required is not too complicated as it is similar to most people who have heart problems.

While treating this could be a lot of work and I quite unclear, it is still very possible.

Friday 28 January 2011

Scleroderma Types Diagnosis And Treatment


Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the connective tissue, this of which is found all over our body in our skin, joints and in most of our organs. It happens when the antibodies in your immune system would damage your tissues, which is contrary to their main purpose of which is to protect them. That in turn would cause the scarring of the affected areas that would also make them thicken. Blood supply to the affected area is limited and that causes the function to also be limited.

Scleroderma can happen to anyone, but it is more likely to appear in some than it is on others. Scleroderma is four times more likely to happen to women than it is on men and it usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50. It is also found often in African-American women and of the Native American Choctaw tribe. It rarely occurs among northern Asians and children.

What Are The Types Of Scleroderma?

Scleroderma can be classified according the area that it is affecting as well as the degree. Mainly, there are two forms of scleroderma. The localized type is known as limited scleroderma. This type would usually only affect a small portion, usually on the skin and even if it could disable a patient, it is not fatal most of the time. While this is considerably mild, it could develop rapidly and could start affecting the organs, if that happens, the condition in known as systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is the severe form of the disease and would tend to be more fatal than the localized type. This is because it limits blood flow to the organs, causing different types of problems. The affected organs can be anywhere from the digestive system, the kidney, the lungs and the heart. Conditions with organs however can be managed with the use of careful medication.

What Are The Symptoms?

Scleroderma would usually begin with Raynaud’s phenomenon or other skin problems. After that, it could stop there if it is limited scleroderma of it could spread to other organs if the condition is systemic sclerosis. The most common part to be affected with the development of scleroderma within are the digestive organs, primarily the esophagus. The kidneys are also one of the most affected organs with scleroderma.

While cardiac involvement in scleroderma is quite rare, it is one of the most fatal types of scleroderma as it can cause numerous heart diseases. Lung problems brought about by scleroderma used to be the leading cause of death until effective medications were discovered and changed the whole picture. As of now, these problems with different organs can be managed with medical help.

How Can It Be Cured?

Since scleroderma has no definite cause, it also has no known cure. The approach to scleroderma treatment is more of limiting damages and treating individual symptoms rather than completely removing the cause of scleroderma in a patient. This however has turned out well in fact, lung problems which used to be the leading cause of deaths in scleroderma patients has already been managed well. Medications which have proven effective have changed the whole picture and so has it for other body parts.

If ever a patient should develop side effects or further complications with medications, he or she could either take alternative medications or go for surgery. All of these treatment methods go well with rehabilitation therapy every once in a while to restore normal organ function and as well as clean and healthy living.

Sunday 23 January 2011

Pulmonary Problems With Scleroderma


What Is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is quite rare, only affecting 14 out of every 1million persons worldwide. Most commonly, scleroderma affects women more than men and those who are between ages 35 and 54. Symptoms of scleroderma vary depending on what part of the body it is affecting. The most common symptom however is the development of scar tissue on the skin coupled with sensitivity and pain.

A more severe form of scleroderma is known as systemic sclerosis which is shown by the development of scar tissue on the skin as well as involvement with other parts of the body such as the joints, muscle, digestive organs, heart, kidneys and lungs. Lung involvement with scleroderma is one of the most common cases with 70% of all cases having such. It follows the symptoms shown by the skin which would account for 95% of all cases.

What Are The Causes Of Scleroderma Lung Disease?

As of today, there are no known causes of any form of scleroderma although a lot of medical experts have theories on the causes. Some would say that is very much genetic, thus if a person would develop scleroderma, his relatives are also at greater risk of having it. Some would also say that it is environmental and are caused by different substances in the environment.

Another theory would say that the left-over fetal cells after pregnancy that are still circulating in the mother’s bloodstream even after decades after pregnancy has a role in causing the illness, considering the common category of people who develop scleroderma which are women in between the ages 35 and 54. Although these theories could be reliable, it is not backed up by solid scientific proof.

What Are The Symptoms Of Scleroderma Lung Disease?

If you show the early symptoms of scleroderma which can be found on the skin coupled by shortness of breath especially during exercise and dry cough without mucus, then it is very likely that your lungs are affected by scleroderma. In order for you to be assured, you can see a doctor to get diagnosed. The doctor then will conduct a blood test to see how your antibodies are doing.

Since scleroderma is an autoimmune disease, it happens when your antibodies are attacking your own tissues. The doctors will be able to know this through a blood test of which they could see if that is so. For lung involvement, you would undergo a physical exam, chest x-ray and a lung function test to see how capable your lungs are of doing its purpose.

How Do You Treat Scleroderma In Lungs?

As of now, there is also no known drug that can stop scleroderma from developing in the lungs. The medical approaches taken to relieve a patient from the symptoms that he or she would have is more of a rehabilitative approach rather than an attempt to entirely remove the illness. In doing this, the doctor would give therapies to a patient to relieve him or her from shortness of breath.

Numerous medications have failed and some experts have concluded that none of those that are available would work. Because of that, they would recommend constant rehabilitation of the lungs although significant improvement in lung function is unlikely to happen here. Since the causes and medications of scleroderma are unknown to the medical world, there is much to be explored and to be found out in it.

Thursday 20 January 2011

Managing Your Life With Scleroderma


Accepting Changes

Having scleroderma would be a very big challenge for you since from that point where you got it, you will really have to change the way you do things. There are a lot of things you could enjoy doing but since you are limited, you will not be able to do as much anymore. The first step in efficiently managing life with scleroderma is for you to accept the changes. You will never be able to handle your life with scleroderma if you don’t accept the changes in the first place.

Try to think of life with scleroderma as the beginning of a new lifestyle and not as a disadvantage. With that, it is important that you keep doing a lot of activities to make life with scleroderma easier for you. It is understood that accepting the changes that will be brought about by scleroderma would be difficult however, you can manage it easily and a lot of people have done that. It is just a matter of accepting your condition and living by it.

Relating With Other People

For people with scleroderma, it would be difficult for them to relate with other people when signs of it would show. Even some people would completely lose interest in getting up close with other people but in most cases, patients of scleroderma would just be a little less sociable. Considering this, you should be extra careful on how you relate with people even when you have scleroderma. You should still be the person everyone else used to know and liked.

It is important that you still keep up your confidence and not make your condition too much of an issue especially when you are relating with people. As long as you are still able to relate, you still can do it. Scleroderma is just an illness and not something that would completely isolate you from the world around you.

Keeping Yourself Healthy

Even when your activities and your movement would considerably be limited, it is still important that you get a healthy dose of physical activity to keep yourself active. Try to put away a few minutes everyday to do enjoyable activities such as gardening, taking a walk around the neighborhood or playing with grandchildren. Scleroderma may limit your movement but it definitely is not enough to keep you from moving around.

People with this condition would make up all sorts of excuses as not to exercise such as “I’m too weak”, “I’m too old” or “I’m too tired”. While it is true that your condition would limit you, it is also factual that regular exercise keeps you healthy, would relieve stress and would help you manage your condition well. Exercise is one of the best things you can actually do to help you get by your condition and live a life that is still enjoyable despite some given disadvantages.

Understanding Your Condition

In order for you to be in control of yourself, you have to fully understand your condition. Take your doctor’s advice seriously and as much as possible, try to take good care of yourself. If you have any vices or any unhealthy or unwholesome activities, you should think about how it could worsen your condition and how it could affect you. You are different from most people, thus you have to take care of yourself more.

Take note that there is a difference between people with people suffering from disease and people living with some disadvantages. With that, try to take a positive point of view and you should be able to be in good control of your condition and yourself.

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Lung Problems In Scleroderma

Lung Involvement In Scleroderma

Background

Just as scleroderma could affect any organ by limiting its functions, the function of the lungs is also greatly interfered with if a patient would get scleroderma in his or her lungs. This is seen by numerous lung illnesses such as shortness of breath and coughing. This in turn can also cause problems with the heart such as hypertension and other heart illnesses.

Scleroderma usually begins with Raynaud’s phenomenon which happens on the skin. If the case is limited scleroderma, it would stop there however if it develops into something worse and would start affecting organs within, then that condition is known as systemic sclerosis. This is more likely to happen in women than it is on men and it usually develops somewhere between the ages of 30 and 50. Scleroderma rarely occurs in children.

How Are The Lungs Involved In Scleroderma?

Scleroderma happens when the antibodies in a person’s immune system would attack their own tissues, which is contradicting to their main purpose of protecting it. The cause of this happening is not yet known although some theories have been made. Some have said that the cause of it is genetic and that scleroderma is hereditary while others would say that scleroderma is brought about unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria or viruses.

If scleroderma reaches the lungs, then that is the beginning of pulmonary involvement in scleroderma. The first signs that can be seen are shortness of breath and dry cough without mucus. If this worsens, this would lead to lung problems that are much worse and even hypertension. Fortunately, medications and other treatments are available for cases of pulmonary involvement in scleroderma.

What Are The Types Of Lung Involvement In Scleroderma?

It is said that about 10% to 15% of all people with lung involvement in scleroderma would develop sever lung disease during the duration of their illness. There are two main manifestations of lung involvement in scleroderma, one is interstitial lung disease. This is also known as fibrosing alveolitis or pulmonary fibrosis. This occurs in about 75% of all people with scleroderma.

Another manifestation is pulmonary vascular disease, which is the lung problem that could lead to hypertension. This occurs more frequently as another pulmonary complication, but it can also be a result of pulmonary fibrosis. This could happen from 10% to about 80% of all cases of scleroderma. Other manifestations of lung involvement in scleroderma would include brochiectasis, aspiration pneumonia, neoplasm, spontaneous pneumothorax and drug-associated pneumonitis.

How Can This Be Treated Or Managed?

There has been no known cure for lung involvement in scleroderma and as well as all other cases of scleroderma, it can however still be treated with a different approach. Instead of attempting to completely remove scleroderma from a patient, the typical approach for treating lung involvement in scleroderma is to prevent further damage or to attempt to restore normal lung activity with the use of medications, therapy or surgery for some cases.

The most used drug in treating pulmonary scleroderma are corticosteroids. These are also work more effectively when taken with cyclophosphanide. However, not all cases have been effectively treated with it. If ever a patient should develop side effects or if it would lead to further complications, the patient should consider other medications such as HRCT, BAL or penicillamine.

Friday 14 January 2011

Living Well With Scleroderma

Living With Scleroderma

Scleroderma would definitely affect your life but you have to be aware that you are still living and that to some extent; you still have great control all over yourself. You may not be able to do a lot of things that you have always enjoyed such as sports, being out on the sun for too long and even doing household chores but if you learn how to manage your life greatly, it is still sure that you will enjoy so much there is that life could offer.

The first step in doing so is to humbly accept the changes that scleroderma will bring about. Have a mindset like “now that I have scleroderma, I will…” and much more. You may not be able to do a lot of things that you have enjoyed before but you still have a good life to live and if you manage it well, you will definitely enjoy it.

Take Control

You must be first aware that you are suffering from something that is quite serious and has no known cure. With that, most people with sclerosis would be less social, would think about their health more and would lose loads of self-confidence. You must not think of these too much, you just have to take care of yourself more. Since you are borne with something such as sclerosis, you just have to take control in order for things to be in tune.

Remember that your illness is just a part of your life and there is a much bigger whole to that. Just have a healthy balance of activities as well as clean living and the most important part of that being control. If you are in good control, life with scleroderma will turn out much easier for you.

Try To Be Physically Active

Because illnesses give people who have it some source of negative fatigue and as well as pain or stiffness in some parts of the body, most people would tend to be less active and unmotivated. Unfortunately, to keep your body physically strong and to relieve you of stress, you would have to do some physical exercises to keep you healthy. This does not only make you much healthier but would also make you happier with the many things you can do.

Ask your doctor about some exercises you can do despite your condition. Just think about other things that you can do aside from staying in bed and activities of which you enjoy doing such as gardening, playing with grandchildren and having short walks. Take note that you don’t have to do a complete marathon or very strenuous exercises to keep you healthy, the mere fact of having you moving from time to time is already enough to keep you healthy.

Life With Uncertainty

Possibly, the most difficult part when it comes to life with sclerosis could be that things are very uncertain. There no known cure, you would never know what it could lead or you would never know what could happen next, the bitter part of this is that you are not in control. Considering all that, you should know how to live with your condition and you can do this by getting used to it.

Getting used to your condition would take some time, after a while you should already learn what goals in life you should have and what things you can do. You should also choose not to be a victim of your condition, take note that there is a significant difference between a victim of an illness and a person living with disease. How you live is up to you and that would decide how life would be with your condition.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Limited Scleroderma and CREST


Scleroderma happens when the body’s immune system begins attacking its own tissues instead of protecting them. This causes the affected area to thicken that in turn would limit blood flow and limit the organ’s function. Scleroderma can affect everyone but the most affected are women that are between the ages 30 and 50. This rarely happens among Northern Asians and in children and is inherent in African-American women and the Native American Choctaw tribe.

There are two main forms of scleroderma. These are systemic sclerosis which would affect two or more areas and is the more fatal form and CREST or limited scleroderma. Although limited scleroderma can be disabling, it is not very likely that it can cause death unless the condition will progress into something worse. CREST usually affects the lower arms and legs, the face and the neck and tends to progress much slower than systemic sclerosis.

What Are The Symptoms Of Crest?

CREST is an acronym for its major symptoms. C in crest stands for calcinosis which is characterized by calcium deposits forming under the skin mainly on the knees, elbows and fingers. Another symptom is Raynaud’s phenomenon which is one of the most common symptoms of any form on sclerosis. This usually begins by color changes, numbness and pain in the fingers and is caused when blood flow is limited towards the fingers.

Another common symptom of CREST is esophageal dysfunction. People with limited scleroderma often experience problems with their esophagus which makes swallowing difficult for them. They could also experience thickening in various parts of the body particularly the fingers, legs, chest, arms and legs. This condition is known as sclerodactyly. The last symptom is telangiectasia which is a collection of blood vessels on the surface of the skin.

What Causes It?

Crest happens when the body’s immune system would attack itself instead of protecting it causing numerous damages to the affected area. While this is understood, the cause of scleroderma is not clearly understood however, there are some factors that could play a role these would include genes. A person with defective genes is said to be more susceptible to scleroderma or some would say that scleroderma can be inherited.

Environmental factors could also cause scleroderma as unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria and viruses are possible causes of it. It could also be the female hormones, since females are four times more likely to develop the illness than men are. While these may attempt to solve the unknown cause of scleroderma, none of them are proven yet and these are still theories.

How Does This Develop?

While the first signs of limited scleroderma just happens to your skin, it may make everyday living more difficult for you. However, the real pain starts if the condition would spread inside you affecting other organs. Some complications that would involve scleroderma are gastro-intestinal problems of which will make it more difficult for you to process food into waste, digital ulcers which happen when blood flow is restricted to the fingers and toes that in turn would cause ulcer.

Scleroderma can also lead to lung problems if the lungs are affected and as well as the kidneys. If any of these two organs are affected, that in turn could also cause heart problems. Other problems that are results of scleroderma are dental problems, arthritis, sicca syndrome and depression or anxiety.

Sunday 9 January 2011

Limited Scleroderma the Causes, Symptoms And Treatment


Definition

Limited scleroderma is one of two main forms of scleroderma, with it being the safer or the one which would tend not to be fatal. Limited scleroderma happens when an individual’s antibodies would attack his or her own tissues, which is contrary to its real purpose which is to protect it. This in turn would cause the affected area, which in most cases is the skin, to thicken. Since this is usually accompanied by pain, the patient’s movement is limited.

Limited scleroderma would often show in the face, chest, arms, elbows, knees, fingers, toes and sometimes on the legs and the spine. This is most likely to occur to women than it is on men and usually comes out when the victim is around 30 to 50 years of age. While limited scleroderma is considerably mild, neglecting it can make the case worse and have the condition spread inside. This condition then is known as systemic sclerosis.

Causes

As of now, there is no accurately known cause for any case of scleroderma. Some of the possible causes are genetics and that scleroderma can be hereditary, environment and that it is brought about by different unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria, virus and similar factors, hormones are also said to cause it as to explain why women are more likely to develop scleroderma much more than men are.

One theory also made was that the fetal matter left after pregnancy that are still circulating in the mother’s system, even after decades of giving birth can cause scleroderma. While all of these may be reasonable and are very possible causes of scleroderma, unfortunately none of them are proven yet and the cause for all forms of scleroderma remains unknown.

Symptoms

Limited scleroderma is also known as CREST which is an acronym of all of its most visible symptoms. The first symptom for it of which the first letter stands for is calcinosis. This is the development of tiny calcium deposits under the skin which mainly form on the joints. These deposits can be felt and seen easily. Another symptom is Raynaud’s phenomenon which is the most common symptom of every form of scleroderma with it happening in 95% of all cases.

Esophagus disease is also experienced by people who suffer scleroderma, which would make it difficult for them to swallow since it interferes with the body’s way of processing food down known as peristalsis. Another evident symptom is sclerodactyly which refers to the localized tightening of the toes and fingers thus limiting their movement. The last symptom is telangiectasias, which are tiny red areas anywhere on the skin.

Treatment

As of now, there is no known treatment for the complete removal of scleroderma in a patient. The approach for treating scleroderma is focused on limiting the damages done by the illness to the affected areas and as well as attempting to restore function to the damaged area. This can be done by either medications, rehabilitation therapy and as well as surgery. Numerous cases have been proven successful in the past.

For limited scleroderma, each different symptom is treated individually. Raynaud’s phenomenon would only require warming and protection or one could take low-dose aspirin to prevent blood clots. Fluoxetine can also help improve overall circulation which can restore normal functions.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Kidneys and Scleroderma

Having The Kidneys Involved In Scleroderma

Description

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that mainly deals with connective tissues which are found at all parts of our body. Being an autoimmune disease, it is a disorder with the immune system that makes the antibodies attack the tissues instead of having them protect it. While most cases of scleroderma would show Raynaud’s phenomenon which are visible through the skin, a severe form of it would involve some limitations in organ functions.

One of the most affected areas when a patient is affected by scleroderma is the kidneys. In fact, it used to be the leading cause of death among scleroderma patients until a new class of drugs were made available by angiotensin converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors, which has changed the whole picture of cases of which the kidney would get involved in scleroderma.

How Does Renal Involvement In Scleroderma Develop?

The cause of scleroderma is not yet known, what is known is how it works. Scleroderma happens when a person’s immune system attacks its own tissues causing damage or the appearance of scar tissues on the affected area. If the kidneys are involved, the first involvement would be the constriction of blood vessels which are in the kidney. This is followed by scarring of the vessels thus making the surfaces thicker and limiting the functions of the kidney.

As a result of the thickening, blood flow is limited to the kidney. This in turn would cause the release of kidney hormones that could cause blood vessel constriction that could also impair the kidneys. From this point, there could be injury or a permanent dysfunction in some parts of the kidney. This constriction could also increase blood pressure and in worse case, could lead to heart failures.

How Can This Condition Be Managed?

Once scleroderma would develop and would start to affect organs, the damage can go on and on and could spread even further. When the damage is done, little can be done to reverse it. Considering that, it is much easier to prevent it rather than to cure it, that of which would go for all cases of scleroderma. The key for renal involvement in scleroderma is to have it treated as early as possible.

Renal involvement in scleroderma however could only happen to those who have the diffuse type, which is known as systemic sclerosis. If the case of scleroderma is limited or what we call as CREST, it is unlikely that the kidneys will get involved. With medical help, a healthy lifestyle and as well as taking care of yourself as much as you can, these are the best ways to manage a condition of scleroderma affecting the kidneys.

Can This Be Treated?

As of now, there is no known cause of treating scleroderma in general. Treatment is available but it is focused on limiting the damages done by scleroderma as well as treats symptoms rather than completely remove scleroderma from the patient. While that is at hand, you must remember that renal involvement in scleroderma is treatable as well as you follow some guidelines.

The key to having a condition as such cured is early detection, medical help and taking care of one’s self. With the help of a competent doctor along with the patient’s responsibility, everything should turn out right when it comes to managing renal involvement in scleroderma.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Lungs and Scleroderma

Having Lungs Involved In Scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that happens when the antibodies, instead of protecting the body would attack the tissues causing them to degrade or limiting the affected area’s functions. It primarily deals with the connective tissues, those of which act like glue and bind our cells together. Since these connective tissues are found almost everywhere on our body, scleroderma is able to affect all of them primarily the skin and the organs.

Scleroderma is quite rare as it is only found in 14 out of every 1 million people worldwide. Scleroderma mostly occurs in women more than it does on men however, it can kill more men. It is likely to develop between the ages of 30 to 50 and is inherent in some races such as the Native American Choctaw tribe and African-American women. It is also very rare that it would develop in children.

How Does Scleroderma Affect The Lungs?

Scleroderma can affect the lungs just as it could affect other organs and limit their functions. While scleroderma would affect the skin in most cases, another one of the most common organs that scleroderma would attack are the lungs. This happens when the antibodies attack the lungs causing its surfaces to toughen and limiting the lungs’ functions. With that, scleroderma lung involvement can also lead to the rise of other complications with the lungs and even with the heart. Some of these complications can be pneumonia, lung abscess, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis.

Fortunately, lung involvement in scleroderma can be managed with some medications and some processes. While these may not remove the disease entirely from the person, it could give relief and as well as minimize the damages done by scleroderma. This is the typical approach when it comes to treating all forms of scleroderma.

How Is This Diagnosed?

If one would have the development of calcium deposits in the skin as well as experience pain or problems with some organs, then that person is most likely to be a victim or systemic sclerosis. As for lung involvement, the patient would go different medical tests to see how the lungs are functioning. One common test that can be done is pulmonary function testing which will have the patient breath through a machine and from there; the doctor will be able to tell how well the lungs are functioning.

Another test that could be done is an open lung biopsy of which the doctor will take a sample scraping from your lungs and have it observed to see what can be done with your condition and what medications you could take to relieve you from your symptoms.

How Is This Treated?

With scleroderma not having a known cause, it also has no known cure. While medications are available, these only limit damages done by the illness and as well as relieve a patient from symptoms. For scleroderma lung involvement, a doctor could give you an immunosuppressive, this of which would try to limit the amount of antibodies produced. If a patient should not find relief from this medication or should develop other side effects, other therapies can be made.

Other therapies that can be done to relieve a patient from the symptoms of scleroderma lung involvement are antifibrotic therapy which in attempt would try to lessen the fibrous surfaces of the affected area, antiendothelin therapy and anticytokine therapy.