SCLERODERMA

Scleroderma is an autoimmune, rheumatic, and chronic disease that affects the body by hardening connective tissue. Connective tissue is made of many kinds of proteins. Among them is collagen of the skin. Scleroderma literally means hard skin.

Symptoms

For some people, two symptoms are among the early signs of scleroderma:

• Fingers that become very sensitive to cold and change color with cold or emotional stress
• Fingers and hands that become stiff and puffy

We encourage you visit the National Scleroderma Foundation to become more knowledgeable about your condition.  The knowledge of your disorder helps you in understanding the disorder and its treatment.  Each person is different so what applies to one patient may not apply to another. Reading and understanding about your disorder will help you be better prepared to discuss the disorder with your physician and understand the options that are available to help you. These links are not connected to Albuquerque Center for Rheumatology and are offered for your information only.

Treatment Options

Iritis treatment targets preserving vision and relieving pain and inflammation in conjunction with an ophthalmologist. If your iritis is associated with an underlying condition, treating that condition also is necessary.

Most often, treatment for iritis involves:

• Steroid eyedrops. Glucocorticoid medications, given as eyedrops, reduce inflammation.
• Dilating eyedrops. Eyedrops used to dilate your pupil can reduce pain associated with iritis. Dilating eyedrops also protect you from developing complications that interfere with your pupil’s function.
• Rarely Iritis may require immunosuppressants.