What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a rare disease of the connective tissue. It can cause the tissue in skin, joints, and internal organs to thicken and stiffen. There are three major forms of the disease:

• Localized scleroderma (also known as morphea)-usually affects only the skin in isolated parts of the body. This form is less serious.
• Systemic scleroderma-affects widespread areas of skin and/or internal organs, most often the lungs. Certain categories of this form of scleroderma are more serious and can be fatal.
• Overlap syndrome-may involve features of scleroderma and features of other autoimmune syndromes