For reasons we don’t yet know, women are far more likely to develop scleroderma and other autoimmune disorders than men. Yet many women may be unfamiliar with this disease or any of the over 100 autoimmune disorders because individually their numbers are small. However, taken together, a woman’s chance of developing an autoimmune disease is greater than cancer or heart disease.

This is why we support Scleroderma Awareness Month by sharing important information about this disorder.

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease affecting connective tissues throughout the body. It stems from an over-production of collagen that creates hardening (sclerosis) of the skin (derma) and internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys, heart and gastrointestinal tract.

Localized scleroderma is often seen more in children. Systemic scleroderma is more common in adults. Overall, female patients outnumber male patients about 4-to-1.

The most common life-threatening effects on the body involve the lungs. Patients with scleroderma are at increased risk for developing pulmonary hypertension (PH), also known as high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. This reduces the blood oxygen level, which in turn, may cause an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.

Scleroderma can also cause high blood pressure by narrowing the pulmonary arteries, a condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). When the blood pressure inside the pulmonary vessels is high, the right side of the heart has to pump harder to move blood into the lungs to pick up oxygen. This can lead to failure of the right side of the heart.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), also called pulmonary fibrosis, is another serious complication.

An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 in the U.S. have the systemic form of scleroderma with many more people diagnosed with the localized form of the disease.

Like many autoimmune disorders, the exact cause or causes of scleroderma are unknown.

Symptoms

Skin hardening is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. Other symptoms can range from mild (heart-burn) to life-threatening (shortness of breath). The severity depends on which parts of the body are affected, and to what extent.

When the lungs are involved, those with mild pulmonary hypertension (PH) may have no symptoms. People with moderate or severe PH usually notice shortness of breath, especially with exercise. You may also notice unusual chest pains and symptoms of right-sided heart failure, such as worsening shortness of breath and swelling of the feet and legs. Other symptoms may include cough, light-headedness or fainting, palpitations (heart racing or fluttering) and swelling.

As with many autoimmune disorders, people with Scleroderma may have other autoimmune diseases as they often present in “clusters.” About 90% of people with systemic scleroderma also have Raynaud Phenomenon, the constriction of blood vessels in the ears, nose, fingers or toes. This can cause the affected areas to turn red and tingle or become numb.

Diagnosis and Treatment

The diagnostic process may require a visit with a rheumatologist or a dermatologist and a blood study or other specialized tests depending on which organs are affected.

Currently, there is no cure for scleroderma, but there are treatments available. Some are directed at symptoms while others are aimed at depressing the immune system.

Some people with a mild form of the disease may not need any medication, and occasionally, people can go off treatment when their scleroderma is not active.

Because there is so much variation from one person to the next, treatments vary for each patient.

Lung disease is a major cause of scleroderma-related deaths. Research indicates that 25 percent of scleroderma patients will die from pulmonary hypertension; another 23 percent will die from pulmonary fibrosis.

Source:

Scleroderma Foundation

When it comes to major health concerns, many of us worry about getting cancer or heart disease. But you may be surprised to learn that autoimmune diseases are far more common than either of these conditions. Approximately 50 million Americans, 20% of the population or one in five people, suffer from autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmunity is a result of a misdirected immune system that causes one's own immune system to attack itself. Women are more likely than men to be affected. Some estimates say that 75 percent of those affected are women.

There are over 100 autoimmune diseases but surveys have found that only 13% of us can name one. It’s not that we haven’t heard of diseases like diabetes, Crohn’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. It’s the fact that they share a common thread, autoimmunity, that is not well known.

Therein lies the goal of Autoimmune Awareness Month: to bring a national focus to autoimmunity as the common factor in all autoimmune diseases in order to bring a collaborative effort to research, funding, early detection, and eventually, prevention and cure for all autoimmune diseases.

To that end, we are sharing important information about autoimmune disorders and how you can get involved in an Autoimmune Walk to raise awareness and funds for research.

Types of Autoimmunity

Autoimmune disorders are frequently classified into organ-specific disorders and non-organ-specific disorders:

In organ-specific disorders, the autoimmune process is directed mostly against one organ. Examples, with the organ affected, include Hashimoto's thyroiditis (thyroid gland), pernicious anemia (stomach), Addison's disease (adrenal glands), and type 1 diabetes (pancreas).

In non-organ-specific disorders, autoimmune activity is widely spread throughout the body. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus), and dermatomyositis.

What Causes Autoimmunity?

It is believed that autoimmune disorders consist of two components: one is genetic and the other is an environmental trigger. Therefore, if you have a family history of autoimmune disorders, you may be predisposed for an autoimmunity disorder but may not develop one unless it is set-off by a trigger.

Common triggers include: chemicals, drugs, foods, bacteria, viruses, toxins, stress, hormones, diet, and weight gain.

Some autoimmune disorders and their triggers are well established. For example celiac disease—an autoimmune affliction of the small intestine—is triggered by exposure to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For other immune disorders, there are many “suspect” triggers--or worse--they are unknown.

Challenging Symptoms

Diagnosing many autoimmune diseases can be challenging as symptoms can be vague, attributable to other causes or not easily diagnosed with blood tests, imaging, and other standard tests. Clinicians who aren’t familiar with these illnesses can find them perplexing. It’s not uncommon for some autoimmune disorders to exist for years until the condition becomes acute and vital organs have been damaged. Once a diagnosis is established, treatments involve eliminating known triggers, dampening the immune response and, in some cases, hormone replacement.

Linking Together for a Cure

You can help raise awareness of autoimmune disorders by participating in one of the Autoimmune Walks organized by the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA). “Virtual Walks” will also allow anyone anywhere to participate in this campaign. Funds raised through the walks will be used by AARDA to support critical research funding aimed at solving the underlying immune issues that link all autoimmune disorders. Learn more about the Autoimmune Walks here.

Sources:

American Autoimmune Related Disease Association

An estimated 3% of the United States population struggles with an uncomfortable disease that can affect our ability to walk, sleep and in some cases, go to work everyday. It affects just as many males as females and while there is no one cure for this inherited disease, there are a variety of treatments and therapies that affected individuals may undergo.

Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the country, affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans. The month of August is dedicated to promoting awareness of this skin disorder and the need for more research to better understand, treat, and ultimately, find a cure for disease.

What are the signs of psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic skin disease usually seen in adults that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. They typically appear on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet. This occurs when skin cells rise to quickly from below the surface of the skin and pile up on the surface before they have a chance to mature. Normally, this turnover takes about a month, but in psoriasis it may occur in only a few days. Nearly 80 percent of people with the disease have plaque psoriasis—the most common form—which appears as red, raised patches.

If you develop psoriasis, this could be a sign of an issue within your immune system. In many cases, there is a family history of psoriasis. Researchers have studied a large number of families affected by psoriasis and identified genes linked to the disease.

Psoriasis can last a lifetime, with recurring symptoms over a long period of time. However, depending on the severity of the diagnosis, your healthcare provider may suggest the following types of treatment using a stepped or combination approach:

• Step 1 – Topical treatments (creams and ointments applied to the skin)
• Step 2 – Phototherapy (or light therapy)
• Step 3 – Systemic therapy (prescriptions taken by mouth or injection)

This year, the National Psoriasis Foundation is presenting the first film festival for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to honor National Psoriasis Awareness Month. Learn more about how to participate at: www.psoriasis.org/pam.

Sources:

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

National Psoriasis Foundation