Systemic sclerosis: different subsets and disease remitting drugs
Ogawa, T.; Saito, E.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 57(2): 344-348
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 10078002 Document Number: 503998
Systemic sclerosis(scleroderma) is a generalized disorder of connective tissue characterized clinically by thickening and fibrosis of the skin and distinctive forms of involvement of internal organs notably the heart, lungs, kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract. Systemic sclerosis is a complicated disease with wide variation of manifestations and outcomes. It ranged from a disease which is extremely mild hardly effecting someone's life to one that is very severe causing an early demise. We describe different subsets of this complicated disease which allows physicians to have better understanding of its prognosis and outcome. Serum autoantibodies are useful in predicting prognosis, since they have association with serious visceral disease. Recently, laboratory studies are helpful both in identifying organ system abnormalities and the scleroderma specific autoantibodies. These autoantibodies are potentially very important in identifying subsets of patients. Using physical and serologic findings, the physician can determine the specific problems which are need to be addressed and treated.