Rheumatologist Flags 4 Early Scleroderma Signs in 300,000 Americans
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jun 18
Rheumatologist Flags 4 Early Scleroderma Signs in 300,000 Americans
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jun 18
Summary
Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann said four often-overlooked symptoms—Raynaud’s phenomenon, fatigue, reflux and broader gastrointestinal issues—can point to scleroderma earlier when they appear together.
300,000 Americans live with scleroderma, and about one-third have the more serious systemic form; Volkmann said the early signs are frequently dismissed because each also appears in more common conditions.
Gastrointestinal problems are often mistaken for IBS, while fatigue may be blamed on stress or lifestyle, delaying diagnosis for years and pushing back treatment and symptom management.
No cure exists, but disease-modifying therapies can target complications such as skin and pulmonary fibrosis, while research into cellular therapies is raising hopes for longer remissions.