What are the symptoms or scleroderma and how is it diagnosed?
Symptoms of scleroderma vary with the different types. Localized scleroderma patients usually have distinct areas of hard skin that may appear shiny and are sometimes discolored. If the skin affected crosses a joint line, there can be difficulty in moving that joint. There can be some pain or tenderness associated as well. Systemic scleroderma patients tend to have more skin involvement in addition to other organs involved. Patients often will have Raynaud’s phenomenon, which is a condition where the fingers and toes will become discolored (white or purple) and painful when exposed to cold weather. Systemic sclerosis can also affect the lungs, the kidneys, the heart, and the digestive tract. There is no blood test that can diagnose scleroderma. The diagnosis is usually made based on patient history, findings on physical exam, and laboratory tests. Common lab tests used include: CBC (complete blood count), blood chemistries (including liver and kidney tests), inflammatory markers (ESR o
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