Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms of scleroderma include:
- thickening or hardening of the skin
- numbness and pain in the extremities brought on by cold or emotional stress
- loss of flexibility due to gradual hardening and tightening of the skin, especially on the arms, face, or hands
- joint stiffness or pain (elbows, knuckles)
- digestive problems including difficulty swallowing, problems absorbing nutrients and less muscle activity in the intestine causing constipation or diarrhea
- curling and stiffening of the fingers
- puffy hands and feet, most often noticed in the morning
There are two types of generalized scleroderma:
- CREST syndrome (also called limited scleroderma)
- diffuse scleroderma
The five main features of CREST syndrome include:
- Calcinosis - this is the formation of small, hard, white deposits in the skin, typically at the fingers, toes, knees and elbows.
- Raynaud's phenomenon - this occurs when the fingers lose their blood supply and go numb at the slightest sign of cold. Raynaud's phenomenon can exist on its own (called Raynaud's disease), or be caused by other conditions like arthritis. When it appears together with sclerodactyly (thickening and tightening of the skin of the fingers and toes), it's usually a sign of scleroderma.
- Esophageal dysfunction - people rarely have this as an early symptom, but it commonly develops a few years into the disease. The esophagus is the tube linking the mouth to the stomach. A valve at the bottom of the tube called the lower esophageal sphincter keeps acid in the stomach. When this valve does not work properly, acids from the stomach can enter the esophagus causing heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or acid reflux. The lower esophageal sphincter is the inner organ most likely to be attacked by scleroderma. Even in mild forms of scleroderma, heartburn problems are very common. Damage to the esophagus can lead to bleeding, ulcers, holes, and scarring in the esophagus. This can make it difficult to swallow, and many people with scleroderma have trouble eating. It can also cause changes in the esophageal tissue that can lead to cancer. One third of people with esophageal symptoms in scleroderma develop Barrett's esophagus, a harmless condition in itself, but considered to be a precancerous growth.
- Sclerodactyly - along with Raynaud's phenomenon, this is one of the two symptoms most likely to be the first sign of scleroderma. It is a thickening of the skin of the fingers or toes.
- Telangiectasia- these are tiny red "spider veins" that typically appear on the hands and face.
Diffuse scleroderma is the other form of systemic scleroderma. In diffuse scleroderma, people experience thickening of the skin of the arms, legs, face, chest, and stomach. Inside the body, damage to the lungs, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, bowel, esophagus, and joints may occur. If many of these organs are affected, the condition may become life-threatening. This more serious form of scleroderma is occasionally fatal, and nearly always debilitating.
The most common forms of damage from diffuse scleroderma are:
- gastrointestinal - heartburn caused by hardening of the esophagus, low absorption of nutrients and abnormalities in the way food moves in the intestine may happen to some people with scleroderma.
- joint - not so much to the bone itself as to the skin, tendons, and other tissue. This can cause the joints to lock in place when flexed. Tendinitis and a crackling sound when you move are also possible.
- lung - scleroderma can cause pulmonary fibrosis, a scarring of the lungs that interferes with the way oxygen is transferred. The scarring can lead to pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels going from the lung to the heart). This can in turn damage the heart, leading to serious, irregular heartbeats, and sometimes heart failure or sudden death.
- heart - scleroderma can also attack the heart directly, replacing healthy muscle tissue with scar tissue.
- liver - the biliary ducts that drain the liver can be scarred, possibly damaging the liver itself.
- kidney damage - kidney failure can lead to death in scleroderma when these internal organs are affected.
Many of the most severe complications of scleroderma are likely to occur in the first 5 years or not at all. People with severe forms of scleroderma have about an 80% to 85% chance of surviving 5 years after being diagnosed with the condition.