Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a rare, chronic disease characterized by excessive deposits of collagen. Progressive systemic scleroderma or systemic sclerosis, the generalised type of the disease, can be fatal. The localised type of the disease tends not to be fatal. The term 'localised, generalised sclerderma' can be used to describe cases where the disease covers a large area of the body - typically more than 40%.

Pathophysiology

The cause of the disease is unknown. The overproduction of collagen is thought to result from an autoimmune dysfunction.

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