Scleroderma
1- A disease depends on :a- Vascular lesions >> endoth. damage >> .. >> obliterative arterial lesions >> ischaemia ...b-Fibrotic lesions >>and internal organs .. ??c- Autoimmune mechanism >> may precipitate the vascular lesions or activate the fibrotic mechanism , beside its own harming effect
2-C/P
- Skin ; ( edematous >> fibrotic >> atrophic )
-MSK ^ Non erosive ^- Sclerodermaomyositis ( sclerosis + DM )
- GIT- Dysphagia ( lower dysphagia )
- Reflux " due to laxity of the lower eso. sphincter " >> aspiration pneumonia and hoarseness
- Malabsorption $ " due to over bacterial growth "
- Intestinal pseudo-obstruction ..... so , the patient presents with a long duration of constipation followed by a sever diarrhea .. so doctors prefer to give a prophylactic course of antibiotic every month ..
-IPF >>
- Myocardial fibrosis >>
- Conduction and contraction defects
- ENT- Sicca-like $
- Hoarseness of voice due to acid reflux
-Genetalia ( due to fibrosis )- Erectile dysfunction in males
- Dysparonia in females
- Hypothyrodism ( due to fibrosis of the secretory acini )- Scleroderma kidney ( also due to fibrosis )- Malignant HTN
- Renal failure
- Scleroderma renal crisis ^abrupt onset
3- Investigations- To detect the different affection ... ??- Anti-Scl 70 ... Specific , but only in 20-30 %- ANA +ve in 90% & Rh.f +ve in 30 % "sero +ve"
4- Treatment- No specific satisfactory drug therapy- symptomatic and life style modification ... ??- Vasodilators- ACEI from the start .. to prevent the Renal crisis .. and never stop if only produce cough >> shift to ARBs
- Viagra in winter , .. to females ??!!
- SSRI >> vasodilator + decrease TGF-Beta
- Iloprost " prostacyclin analogues substance "
-Mycophenolate : prevents internal organ fibrosis-high dose CS " > 30 ".. is contra-indicaed as it can precipitate renal crisis ...