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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffLimited scleroderma has no known cure. Treatment focuses on relieving signs and symptoms and preventing complications.
Medications
- Antacid drugs. If limited scleroderma is giving you heartburn, your doctor may suggest drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid.
- Blood pressure lowering drugs. Medications that open small blood vessels and increase circulation may help relieve Raynaud's symptoms and reduce increased pressure in the arteries between the heart and lungs.
- Drugs to suppress the immune system. These types of medications have shown promise in preventing interstitial lung disease, a condition in which excess collagen collects in the tissue between the lungs' air sacs, in some people with limited scleroderma.
Therapy
- Physical therapy. Stretching exercises are important to help prevent loss of mobility in your finger joints. A physical therapist can also show you facial exercises that may help keep your face and mouth flexible as well.
- Occupational therapy. If limited scleroderma is making it difficult for you to perform daily tasks, an occupational therapist can help you learn new ways of doing things. For example, special toothbrushes and flossing devices can make it easier for you to care for your teeth.
Surgery
- Calcium deposits. Large or painful calcium deposits are sometimes surgically removed.
- Red spots or lines. Laser surgery can reduce the appearance of red spots or lines caused by swollen blood vessels near the surface of the skin.
- Gangrene in fingers. Amputation of fingertips may be necessary if skin ulcers progress to gangrene.
References
- Habif TP. Scleroderma. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1149581384&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00026-2--s0540&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00026-2--s0605&uniqId=239740754-5. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- Ferri FF. Scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis). In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00028-7--sc29005&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1149581384&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00028-7--s29225&uniqId=239740754-5#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00028-7--s29225. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- Systemic sclerosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec04/ch032/ch032h.html. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- Steen VD. The many faces of scleroderma. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;34:1.
- Autoimmune connective tissue disease. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..00007-7--sc0040&isbn=978-1-4377-0986-5&sid=1149586698&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..00007-7--s0715&uniqId=239740754-7#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..00007-7--s0715. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- Handout on health: Scleroderma. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Scleroderma/default.asp. Accessed April 23, 2011.
- Agarwal SK, et al. Genetics and genomic studies in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis). Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;34:17.
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