Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)
Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that causes abnormal collagen buildup, leading to thickening and tightening of the skin. In some cases, it can also affect internal organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, blood vessels, and digestive tract.
At The Medical Group of New Jersey, our rheumatologists provide comprehensive evaluation and collaborative care to help manage symptoms and prevent organ complications.
Symptom Onset & Initial Evaluation
Scleroderma symptoms vary depending on which parts of the body are affected. Common features include:
- Raynaud’s phenomenon: Color changes in the fingers or toes in response to cold or stress
- Skin changes: Swelling, tightness, or thickening of the skin, especially on the hands and face
- Digestive symptoms: Difficulty swallowing, acid reflux, or bloating
- Respiratory symptoms: Shortness of breath or a chronic cough
- Circulatory complications: Painful digital ulcers or fingertip pitting
Early recognition is key to managing inflammation, preserving mobility, and preventing serious complications.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis often involves specialized testing to determine the extent of disease involvement:
- Clinical skin assessment using the Modified Rodnan Skin Score
- Autoantibody testing: ANA, Scl-70, centromere, and RNA polymerase III antibodies
- Pulmonary testing: Lung function studies and high-resolution CT scan
- Cardiac evaluation: Echocardiogram to screen for pulmonary hypertension
- Kidney and heart monitoring for early detection of organ complications
All necessary testing and coordination are available through The Medical Group of New Jersey’s multidisciplinary team, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment planning.
Treatment & Ongoing Management
While there is no single cure for scleroderma, treatment is tailored to each patient’s symptoms and organ involvement:
- Vasodilators and calcium channel blockers for Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux and esophageal protection
- Immunosuppressive therapy to manage skin and lung inflammation
- Targeted treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Specialized wound care for digital ulcers
Our rheumatologists collaborate with pulmonology, cardiology, and dermatology specialists to deliver individualized, whole-body care.
Follow-Up & Outlook
Regular follow-up is essential to monitor organ function, adjust treatment plans, and maintain quality of life. With early intervention and multidisciplinary management, many patients achieve improved stability and symptom control over time.