Systemic scleroderma

Systemic scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis, is an autoimmune rheumatic disease in which the body produces too much collagen, causing thickened, fibrous tissue to build up in the skin and in internal organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and digestive tract, while also damaging the small arteries that supply blood to these tissues. Physicians divide the disease into a limited form, which mainly affects the skin of the hands, forearms, and face, and a more severe diffuse form, which also involves the trunk and upper arms and carries a higher risk of internal organ damage. Its exact cause remains unknown, but researchers suspect a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers, including possible viral infections such as cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19, exposure to organic solvents, and in some kidney failure patients exposure to the contrast agent gadolinium. The American College of Rheumatology established formal diagnostic criteria for the disease in 1980. Common early signs include Raynaud's phenomenon, in which fingers turn white or blue in the cold, along with skin tightening and joint pain, and management typically focuses on controlling symptoms and protecting affected organs rather than reversing the fibrosis itself.