Scleroderma - A Simple Blood Test Could Save Lives

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 06 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PST

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Raynaud's is a common condition, especially in teenagers, affecting approximately 10 million people in the UK. It can vary from being mild to very severe but in many cases is no more than a nuisance in cold weather.

However, for the 1 in 10,000 who develop Raynaud's after the age of 30, it could be the first sign of a serious underlying condition called scleroderma.

Professor Christopher Denton, Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London says: "Diagnosis can be helped by an anti nuclear antibody blood test. If positive then early treatment may prevent the condition from progressing, especially if the lungs are involved. Once a diagnosis of scleroderma is made, patients can be closely followed in specialist centres so that complications are detected as soon as possible."

In Raynaud's, the extremities of the body, mainly the fingers and toes are temporarily starved of blood on exposure to cold or any slight change in temperature. This causes them to turn white, they may then turn blue and finally bright red when the blood flow is restored.

Scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis), is a chronic multi-system disorder which affects the immune system, the blood vessels, the skin and major internal organs including the lungs, kidneys, heart, and gut. The disease can be extremely debilitating having a very significant impact on a patient's quality of life.

The Raynaud's & Scleroderma Association (RSA) is mounting a campaign during 2nd-8th November to highlight the importance of early and accurate diagnosis.

Source
The Raynaud's & Scleroderma Association