Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a group of autoimmune diseases that may result in changes to the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. The disease can be either localized to the skin or involve other organs as well. Symptoms may include areas of thickened skin, stiffness, feeling tired, and poor blood flow to the fingers or toes with cold exposure. One form of the condition, known as CREST syndrome, classically results in calcium deposits, Raynaud’s syndrome, esophageal problems, thickening of the skin of the fingers and toes, and areas of small dilated blood vessels.

The cause is unknown; however, some suspect it may be due to an abnormal immune response. Risk factors include family history, certain genetic factors, and exposure to silica. The underlying mechanism involves the abnormal growth of connective tissue which is believed to be the result of the immune system attacking healthy tissues. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, supported by a skin biopsy or blood tests.

While there is no cure, treatment may improve symptoms. Medications used include corticosteroids, methotrexate, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Outcome depends on the extent of disease. Those with localized disease generally have a normal life expectancy. In those with systemic disease typical life expectancy is about 11 years from onset. Death is often due to lung, gastrointestinal, or heart complications.

About 3 out of 100,000 people per year develop the systemic form. The condition most often begins in middle age.[1] Women are more often affected than men. Scleroderma symptoms were first described in 1753 by Carlo Curzio and then well documented in 1842. The term is from the Greek skleros meaning “hard” and derma meaning “skin”.

Prognosis

The five-year survival rate for systemic scleroderma is about 85%, whereas the 10-year survival rate is just under 70%. This varies according to the subtype; while localized scleroderma rarely results in death, the systemic form can, and the diffuse systemic form carries a worse prognosis than the limited form. The major scleroderma-related causes of death are: pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, and scleroderma renal crisis.[26] People with scleroderma are also at a heightened risk for contracting cancers (especially liver, lung, haematologic and bladder cancers) and, perhaps, cardiovascular disease.

According to a study of an Australian cohort, between 1985 and 2015, the average life expectancy of a person with scleroderma increased from 66 years to 74 years (around 8 years less than the average Australian life expectancy of 82 years).

TREATMENT

At World Stem Cell Clinic and The Royal British Medical Center we practice Precision medicine (PM) which is a treatment model that proposes the customization of the treatment to each unique patients based on their medical history, stage of disease, exam results, time available for treatment and a patient orientation meeting with our Doctors before determining the best treatment for each unique patient.

References[edit]

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• At World Stem Cell Clinic and The Royal British Medical Center we practice “Patient Precision Medicine (PPM)” which is a treatment model that proposes the customization of the treatment to each unique patient based on their medical history, stage of disease, exam results, time available for treatment and a patient orientation meeting with our Doctors before determining the best treatment for each unique patient.

• Our staff physicians are all board certified, in their field with years of experience. Your team includes both primary and ancillary care professionals devoted to maximizing your benefits from the procedures. We enroll you in an open registry to track your changes independently, for up to 5 years.

• To maintain our “Patient Precision Medicine (PPM)” services for you we may use peripheral blood, bone marrow, adipose or umbilical cord derived cells, plasma, proteins and Extracellular Vesicles based your unique treatment needs with mutual agreement.

• As our patient we also keep you abreast of the newest developments in treatment research. This is an ongoing relationship to maintain and enhance your health.

• Our promise is to provide you with travel and lodging support, access to bilingual staff members throughout the entire process and most importantly the best medical care possible.