Who develops scleroderma, and when?
It is estimated that there are approximately 300,000 persons with scleroderma in the United States, including 80,000 to 100,000 with the systemic form and the rest with the localized form. International incidence is unknown, but it has been reported worldwide. Statistically, approximately three to four times more women than men develop the disease. Scleroderma can develop and is found in every age group from infants to the elderly, but its onset is most frequent between the ages of 25 to 55. Factors other than sex, such as race and ethnic background, may influence the risk of getting scleroderma, the age of onset, and the pattern or severity of internal organ involvement. The reasons for this are not clear. Although scleroderma is not directly inherited, some scientists feel there is a slight predisposition to it in families with a history of rheumatic diseases. What causes scleroderma? The exact cause or causes of scleroderma are still unknown, but scientists and medical investigators
