Lung function tests and an x-ray of the lungs may be recommended if the doctor thinks your lungs are affected. The blood test may look for specific types of antibody, including ANA (antinuclear antibodies), which are often positive in people with autoimmune or connective tissue disorders. They may also take a blood test and a small skin sample (biopsy). Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, take your medical history and examine you. There is no specific test for scleroderma. It’s not clear what causes the immune system to malfunction, but it may be a combination of genes and environmental factors. This causes the body to produce excess collagen. In scleroderma, the immune system attacks healthy tissues. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease, which is a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. Other symptoms of systemic scleroderma include joint pain and stiffness, pain and stiffness in the muscles, shortness of breath, fatigue, indigestion or heartburn. Small, white chalky deposits of calcium may form under the skin on the fingers, knees or elbows.Īnother common symptom is Raynaud’s phenomenon, which is a blood circulation problem that causes your fingers or toes to change colour and feel numb or painful in the cold. Systemic scleroderma (diffuse scleroderma) may also affect the skin, but can cause symptoms in the blood vessels, heart, lungs and kidneys, as well as the digestive system. There may be thick discoloured patches of skin on the chest, face, arms, legs or back, or a line or band of thickened tissue. Symptoms include thickening and hardening of the skin, especially on the fingers, arms and face. Localised scleroderma is usually limited to the skin and the tissues underneath. The symptoms of scleroderma depend on the type of scleroderma you have and which part of your body is affected. This is sometimes known as systemic sclerosis. Scleroderma can either be ‘localised’, which only affects the skin, or ‘diffuse’, which affects internal organs or blood vessels as well as skin. People with scleroderma produce too much collagen, which makes their connective tissue, including skin, hard and tight. Connective tissue is the tissue that connects and supports your joints, muscles, skin and organs. Scleroderma is a long-term condition affecting the connective tissue of the body. Related information on Australian websites.Are there any self-care measures for scleroderma?.
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