title: Scleroderma: it has been a long hard journey.
abstract: Progress in the understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) has been painfully slow and this has greatly impeded the application of specific disease modifying treatments. This article provides a brief historical overview of scleroderma (including the important Australian contribution of Dr Alfred Barnett and colleagues--see accompanying article in this issue on pages 513-18), highlights some recent pathogenic developments and summarises some exciting new therapies. Cautious optimism can now be offered to scleroderma sufferers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Allergy and Arthritis, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. peter.roberts-thomson@flinders.edu.au
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Roberts-Thomson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy