It is customary to distinguish between two main varieties of limited sclerodermia - this is a linear and gloaching form. With a linear form of illness on the skin, strips of thickening appear. With the gloaching form of the disease on the skin appear dense to the touch of the flax of oval shape having a red or purple shade. In addition to these two varieties, there are other types of this disease. Such varieties include white spots, surface sclerodermia, as well as generalized and systemic sclerodermia. The system form of the disease can be progressive or develops gradually. With the progressive course of the disease, not only limbs are involved in the pathological process, but also torso and some internal organs. If the disease develops gradually, the process affects mainly skin and hands.
Causes
The reasons for the occurrence of this disease are still not fulfilled. It was revealed that people with endocrine diseases suffer from scleroderma much more often. The risk of disease increases with genetic predisposition and with frequent supercooling. In addition, the process of development of sclerodermia can be provoked by the reception of some drugs, blood transfusions and vaccination.
It is noteworthy that when sclerodermia occurs, excessive collagen generation occurs, which is one of the main building materials lining the skin. If collagen is present in excess, the tissues thicken and, therefore, become less elastic. Thickening and seals that are formed in the development of this disease are beginning to put pressure on the vessels.
There is an opinion that a certain infection can cause this disease. In some cases, the disease occurs after a person suffered Tuberculosis, Scarlay, diphtheria, fabric and other chronic or acute diseases.
It is known that with the development of the disease, the human immune system for unknown for now reasons begins to withstand the tissues of the same body. This mood and activity of immunity lead to collagen production in excessive amounts. To identify mutual communication between the vascular system, the immunity and the development of collagen are carried out special studies. It must be said that these studies gave certain results. In particular, it was found that the genetic factor had a minimal impact on the development of this disease. In addition, it is known that the formation of this pathology is interconnected with some autoimmune processes. And the same processes are the reason that collagen is produced in redundant amounts.
Symptoms
In order to carry out a successful diagnosis, you need to know that symptoms of sclerodermia are similar to the symptoms of many other diseases. This is exactly the main difficulty in recognizing the disease. Be sure to take into account the fact that the patient should have thickening of the skin, the presence of antibodies and changes in blood vessels in blood vessels.
When showing symptoms of sclerodermia, you need to seek a rheumatologist as soon as possible. Most often, a professional doctor can diagnose only examining the patient, but sometimes there are more complex cases in which the leather and joint biopsy should be taken to form a diagnosis. This is necessary to identify general signs of inflammation. Changes in internal organs can usually be detected using an ultrasound, and ECG is also used to diagnose changes in the heart. Changes in the lungs and heart can be detected using X-ray.
Treatment
Anti-inflammatory, vascular and lining agents are prescribed for the treatment of system form of the disease. In addition, preparations are used that prevent the sealing of the connective tissue and the means to suppress the activity of the immune system. In the chronic flow of the disease, appliques from paraffin and dirt are used, as well as radon, coniferous and hydrogen sulfide baths. In addition, with the treatment of sclerodermia, massage, therapeutic physical culture and physiotherapy is used.
In order to reduce the severity of manifestations on the skin, moisturizing ointments are prescribed to the patient. The duration of the treatment of sclerodermia such ointment can continue from one year to two years. In addition, such treatment is able to reduce the defeats of some internal organs. It is worth noting that with systemic sclerodermia, the effectiveness of such ointments has not yet been studied. If the patient has a disruption of esophageal and reflux-esophagitis, then appropriate drugs are prescribed. In the presence of Reynosity syndrome, calcium antagonists and nitroglycerin ointment are recommended to use calcium antagonists. To reduce the manifestation of signs of this syndrome, vessels are used. In this disease it is possible to develop respiratory and heart failure. Standard techniques apply to the treatment of these pathologies. If the disease proceeds with severe Arthritis, Corticosteroids are appointed. In order to increase the life expectancy of patients with systemic sclerodermia, it is recommended to use ACE inhibitors.
