Scleroderma

Abstract

Scleroderma is a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory fibrotic diseases of unknown etiology. Localized scleroderma mainly affects circumscribed skin areas, but depending on the subtype it can also affect structures close to the skin such as fatty tissue, muscles, joints, and bones. In systemic scleroderma/sclerosis, the fibrosis of the skin is accompanied by a very variable involvement of internal organs (gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, kidneys), as well as muscles and joints. These are two independent clinical diseases. The broad spectrum of scleroderma-like diseases or pseudoscleroderma must be distinguished.