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Hardening Connective Tissue – The Disease of Scleroderma
A systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the body’s connective tissues and can have severe consequences for the lives of those affected. During this disease, the connective tissues thicken and scar, which can impact the functioning of various organ systems, such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and digestive system. The appearance of sclerosis not only deteriorates health but can also threaten the quality of life. Estimates of the prevalence of the disease suggest that approximately 2.5 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with scleroderma, but due to the diversity of symptoms, many cases are misdiagnosed. This means that the actual number of affected individuals is likely even…
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Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) – The disease and its signs
The scleroderma is a rare but serious autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs and threatens the function of internal organs in addition to skin lesions. The development of the disease is insidious and is often detected late, as symptoms appear gradually. Scleroderma Awareness Day serves to draw attention to this disease and to strengthen collaboration between society and healthcare professionals. Scleroderma not only causes skin problems but can also severely affect the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys. The disease is characterized by excessive activity of connective tissue cells, known as fibroblasts, leading to a significant increase in collagen production. This process can lead to various organ lesions, which…