Renal crisis and other renal manifestations of scleroderma

Abstract

Renal complications are an important clinical manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc). In particular, scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a hallmark internal organ complication and historically was the predominant mechanism of scleroderma-related death. Outcomes of SRC have improved, but it remains a critical manifestation of the disease that must be diagnosed early and managed appropriately in collaboration with renal specialists. It is also now appreciated that other renal complications occur in SSc. In many cases there is co-occurrence of these different manifestations and this may account for the particular severity of SSc. Other causes of renal pathology should however always be considered in SSc and with better treatment for SRC are becoming more relevant to management of the disease.