Local scleroderma affects only the skin of the hands and face, develops slowly and rarely causes serious problems. Systemic scleroderma or sclerosis can affect large areas of the skin and organs such as the lungs, liver, kidneys, or heart. There are two main types of pathology: diffuse sclerosis and limited scleroderma. Symptoms of the disease include: hair loss, the formation of hard areas and darkening of the skin, small white islands under the skin, ulcers on the fingertips, numbness and pain in the legs and arms, and more.
Examination before treatment of scleroderma abroad
Since the disease can have different effects and affect any area of the body, it is quite difficult to diagnose. In clinics abroad, scleroderma is determined based on a thorough physical examination. Patients undergo a blood test to check the levels of certain antibodies produced by the immune system. A small sample of the affected skin is taken for molecular analysis (biopsy).
If you have symptoms of systemic scleroderma, your doctor may prescribe lung function testing, chest CT, EchoCG, and blood pressure testing. Scleroderma can cause inflammation of the small blood vessels in the kidneys. Kidney problems lead to high blood pressure.
Methods of scleroderma treatment abroad
There is no cure yet for the main process of scleroderma, the overproduction of collagen. In clinics abroad, patients are prescribed medications and therapies that help combat various mechanisms and consequences of the disease.
Some medications close blood vessels and are used to treat Raynaud's disease, heart, kidney, and pulmonary hypertension. These include prostacyclines, endothelin receptor antagonists, ACE inhibitors, and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. Drugs such as Cyclophosphamide and Penicillamine reduce inflammation and block the damaging effects of immunity.
The treatment of scleroderma abroad also includes bone marrow transplantation. This procedure helps to restore skin thickness and reduce scarring, even in the lungs. Patients with scleroderma should receive treatment for certain complications as early as possible to reduce progression before irreversible tissue hardening occurs.
Advanced treatment of scleroderma abroad
Experimental treatment of scleroderma abroad includes the use of stem cells. Stem cells have the ability to transform into any cell in the body, including immune cells. In systemic sclerosis, this type of therapy helps to "restart" the immune system, which helps restore its proper functioning.
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