Systemic vascular disease

Abstract

Vascular disease, predominantly affecting the microcirculation and small arteries, invariably develops in systemic sclerosis. The most obvious clinical consequences of this include Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ischaemic ulcers, telangiectasia, renovascular complications and pulmonary hypertension. However, it almost certainly has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Endothelial cell injury and vascular changes appear to precede other features of the disease, and the subsequent vasculopathy is both dynamic and progressive. The extent and severity of vascular disease are major factors in determining the overall prognosis in individual cases [1].