Scleroderma
Scleroderma is an
autoimmune disease which means that it is a condition in which the body’s
immune attacks its own tissue and causes inflammation and damage. Scleroderma (the
name means ‘hard skin”) is a group of diseases that affect connective tissue in
the body which results from an overproduction and accumulation of collagen in
body tissues. Then, for
unknown reasons, the immune system turns against the body, producing
inflammation and the overproduction of collagen. Scleroderma involves tissue
that gets hard or thick. It can also cause swelling or pain in the muscles and
joints.
Scleroderma’s main
types are localized and systemic. Localized means the disease affects only
certain parts of the body. Systemic means it can affect the whole body.
- The localized type often affects only skin tissues. It does not harm major organs. It may get better or go away without help. But it can be severe in some people and can leave skin damage.
- The systemic type affects the skin, tissues under it, blood vessels, and major organs.
Scleroderma is more
common in women than men. Choctaw Native Americans and African-Americans are more
likely than Americans of European descent to develop the type of scleroderma
that affects internal organs.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/scleroderma/scleroderma_ff.pdf
http://sclerodermacoping.com/map-scleroderma/
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