How is scleroderma renal crisis diagnosed?
How Scleroderma Renal Crisis Is Diagnosed. Patients with scleroderma will have their blood tested for antibodies, which can help confirm a diagnosis as well as help doctors understand more about the nature and severity of the disease. Anti-RNA-polymerase III antibodies are found in one-third of patients with SRC.
What is scleroderma renal crisis?
Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) is a major complication in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). It is characterized by malignant hypertension and oligo/anuric acute renal failure. SRC occurs in 5% of patients with SSc, particularly in the first years of disease evolution and in the diffuse form.
What is another name for scleroderma?
The word “scleroderma” means hard skin in Greek, and the condition is characterized by the buildup of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and other organs. The condition is also called systemic sclerosis because the fibrosis can affect organs other than the skin.
What is scleroderma renal crisis symptoms?
Renal crisis, a highly dangerous complication of systemic scleroderma, may occur quite quickly. The most important warning sign is a sudden rise in blood pressure. Other symptoms are headache, visual disturbances, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, or mental confusion.
How does scleroderma affect renal?
In scleroderma renal crisis, some unknown event triggers blood vessel spasm and additional damage. This triggers aggressive high blood pressure which, in turn, leads to more kidney damage.
How painful is scleroderma?
Pain, stiffness and achiness are common problems in Scleroderma. Almost all people with Scleroderma are familiar with pain due to Raynaud’s or finger ulcerations. Many more experience joint, nerve, and muscle pain.
What are the two types of scleroderma?
There are two main categories of scleroderma: localized and systemic. Each category is made up of several conditions. Localized scleroderma: often affects only the skin and not major organs.
What does scleroderma do to kidney?
Scleroderma patients with normal kidney function develop blood vessel changes in their kidneys which is very similar to that seen in the fingers, lungs and other organs. In most patients, this damage is silent and does not affect health outcome.
How long do scleroderma patients live?
People who have localized scleroderma may live an uninterrupted life with only minor symptom experiences and management. On the other hand, those diagnosed with an advanced and systemic version of the disease have a prognosis of anywhere from three to 15 years.