MedlinePlus: Scleroderma

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- Services and providers for Scleroderma in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Scleroderma is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Scleroderma

Also called: Circumscribed scleroderma, Dermatosclerosis, Morphea, Systemic sclerosis

Scleroderma means hard skin. It is a group of diseases that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue, the proteins that support your skin and organs. There are two main types. Localized scleroderma affects only your skin. Systemic scleroderma affects your blood vessels and internal organs, as well as your skin.

Symptoms of scleroderma include

Calcium deposits in connective tissues
Raynaud's phenomenon, narrowing of blood vessels in the hands or feet
Swelling of the esophagus, the tube between your throat and stomach
Thick, tight skin on your fingers
Red spots on your hands and face

No one knows what causes scleroderma. It is more common in women. It can be mild or severe. There is no cure, but various treatments can relieve symptoms.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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What Is Scleroderma?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment	Disease Management Specific Conditions	No links available
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Research Journal Articles	Directories Organizations	Children

Overviews
- Handout on Health: Scleroderma(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Scleroderma(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- ANA (Antinuclear Antibody Test)(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody (FANA) Test: “False Positive”(American College of Rheumatology)
Treatment
- Treatment Information(Scleroderma Research Foundation)
Disease Management
- Living with Scleroderma(Scleroderma Research Foundation)
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Specific Conditions
- Limited Scleroderma (CREST Syndrome)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Localized Scleroderma (Morphea)(Scleroderma Foundation) - Links to PDF
  Also available in Spanish
- Morphea(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Scleroderma, Localized(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Scleroderma, Systemic(National Institutes of Health)
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Research
- Oral Cyclosphosphamide Improves Quality of Life in Patients with Scleroderma Lung Disease(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- American College of Rheumatology: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology)
- Support Group Websites(Scleroderma Foundation)
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Organizations
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Children
- Getting to Know Your Child's Health Care Team(Juvenile Scleroderma Network)
- I'm Taking My Child to an Adult Rheumatologist -- Why Should It Make a Difference?(Juvenile Scleroderma Network)
- Juvenile Scleroderma: Your Child’s School and Educational Rights(Juvenile Scleroderma Network)
- Laboratory Tests in Juvenile Scleroderma(Juvenile Scleroderma Network)
- What Is Juvenile Scleroderma?(Juvenile Scleroderma Network)
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