title: [Systemic sclerosis--clinical course and treatment possibilities].
abstract: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, such as esophagus, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Three main forms of systemic sclerosis are conspicuous: diffuse systemic sclerosis, limited systemic sclerosis and scleroderma sine sclerosis. Respective variants differ in skin sclerosis exacerbation, progress and prognosis; whereas organ involvement, osseous and articular alterations are comparable in all forms of the disease. Due to the fact that etiology of systemic sclerosis is not known, no specific therapy has been developed. The therapy is based on influencing main pathogenetic factors, such as peripheral circulation disturbances, abnormal immune activation and increase in collagen accumulation. An overview of clinical course of systemic sclerosis and new therapeutic modalities is provided.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Dermatologii CSK MSWiA, 02-507 Warszawa, ul. Wołoska 137. eszymanska@valmed.pl
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szymańska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rudnicka
mesh_terms: D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*