Can scleroderma cause asthma?
Asthma can be an associated condition to Scleroderma and Raynaud’s. Cold air is a major trigger of asthma symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath.
What antibody is associated with mixed connective tissue disease?
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune disease diagnosed when a specific antibody known as anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein is present, and there are features of at least two connective tissue diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and …
Can scleroderma cause interstitial lung disease?
Pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease (ILD) are the most widely reported pulmonary complications that arise in scleroderma patients with a third of patients having pulmonary fibrosis [4].
How does scleroderma affect the respiratory system?
In many people with systemic sclerosis, the lungs are also affected. Excess scar tissue in the lungs leads to interstitial lung disease, which causes the lung tissue to be more constricted than usual.
What happens when scleroderma affects the lungs?
Involvement of the lung causes shortness of breath or fatigue during physical activity. Many patients with scleroderma become less physically active because of musculoskeletal complaints or the fatiguing nature of the illness. Hence many will not be physically active enough to actually develop shortness of breath.
What is scleroderma lung disease?
Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also referred to as scleroderma, is a rare autoimmune disease associated with vasculopathy, inflammation, and fibrosis of the skin and/or internal organs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a frequent complication and is the leading cause of death in patients with SSc.
What is a positive RNP antibody?
A positive result for RNP antibodies is consistent with a connective tissue disease.
What does a positive SSA antibody mean?
A positive result for SSA (Ro) or SSB (La) antibodies is consistent with connective tissue disease, including Sjogren syndrome, lupus erythematosus (LE), or rheumatoid arthritis.
Can scleroderma cause a cough?
Frequent cough is common in scleroderma patients with interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), and correlates with the presence and severity of other characteristics of scleroderma, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ILD, a report published in the journal Chest suggests.
What does scleroderma of the lungs feel like?
Shortness of Breath In Scleroderma, people can have trouble with their lungs without feeling sick. But the most common symptom of Scleroderma lung disease is shortness of breath. People are not able to breathe easily when they are being active.
Is scleroderma a respiratory disease?
Scleroderma is a severe systemic collagen vascular disease of unknown cause characterized by marked vascular and connective tissue abnormalities. The lungs are commonly involved in scleroderma, ranking only behind the skin, the peripheral vasculature, and the esophagus in frequency of organ involvement.
What does positive ANA and RNP mean?
If the ANA is positive, one should also test for antibodies to dsDNA, Sm, RNP, Ro/SSA, and La/SSB. The presence of these antibodies greatly increases the likelihood that the patient has SLE and related disorders (see Table 2, p. 17), and the patient needs to be followed more closely.