Disease or Syndrome
scleroderma
scle·ro·der·ma [ skleer-uh-dur-muh, skler- ]
Etymology:
Greek skleros = hard + derma = skin
Also called:
Circumscribed scleroderma; Morphea; Systemic sclerosis
Definitions related to scleroderma:
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A chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by thickening of the skin and the connective tissues.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A chronic autoimmune phenomenon characterized by fibrosis (or hardening) and vascular alterations of the skin.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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A chronic disorder marked by hardening and thickening of the skin. Scleroderma can be localized or it can affect the entire body (systemic).NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A localized or systemic chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by thickening of the skin and the connective tissues. Localized scleroderma affects only the skin. Systemic scleroderma affects internal organs, including the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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An autoimmune disease in which the skin thickens and hardens; sometimes other parts of the body are affected, and joint pain may result.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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Chronic hardening and thickening of the skin caused by swelling and thickening of fibrous tissue leading to eventual atrophy of the epidermis; can occur as a localized or a systemic disease.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Scleroderma means hard skin. It is a group of diseases that cause abnormal growth of connective tissue. Connective tissue is the material inside your body that gives your tissues their shape and helps keep them strong. In scleroderma, the tissue gets hard or thick. It can cause swelling or pain in your muscles and joints. Symptoms of scleroderma include Calcium deposits in connective tissues; Raynaud's phenomenon, a narrowing of blood vessels in the hands or feet; Swelling of the esophagus, the tube between your throat and stomach; Thick, tight skin on your fingers; Red spots on your hands and face . No one knows what causes scleroderma. It is more common in women. It can be mild or severe. Doctors diagnose scleroderma using your medical history, a physical exam, lab tests, and a skin biopsy. There is no cure, but various treatments can control symptoms and complications. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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The term scleroderma is derived from the Greek words skleros (hard or indurated) and derma (skin) and it is used to describe a disease characterized by progressive skin hardening and induration. Hippocrates first described this condition as thickened skin.WebMD, 2019
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Scleroderma (sklair-oh-DUR-muh) is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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Scleroderma is an autoimmune disorder that may involve changes in the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. There are two main types: localized scleroderma, which affects only the skin; and systemic scleroderma, which affects the blood vessels and internal organs, as well as the skin. These two main types also have...National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
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Scleroderma, a chronic disease of the skin that also can affect the blood vessels and various internal organs. Scleroderma is characterized by excessive deposition of collagen--the principal supportive protein of the connective tissues--in affected areas. There are two main types of scleroderma: a...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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