WHEREAS, One of the earliest signs of systemic scleroderma is
Raynaud's disease, which causes the small blood vessels in a
person's fingers and toes to contract in response to cold
temperatures or emotional distress, which can cause pain,
numbness or a change in color; and
WHEREAS, Scleroderma can cause a variety of digestive
symptoms, depending on which part of the digestive tract is
affected; and
WHEREAS, Some people who have scleroderma may also have
problems absorbing nutrients due to overgrowth of bacteria in
the intestine; and
WHEREAS, Scleroderma can also affect the function of the
heart, lungs or kidneys to varying degrees; and
WHEREAS, Scleroderma results from an overproduction and
accumulation of collagen in body tissues, which is conjectured
to be caused by a combination of factors, including immune
system problems, genetics and environmental triggers; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that approximately 300,000 Americans
have scleroderma and a third of these individuals have systemic
scleroderma; and
WHEREAS, Several Pennsylvania university hospitals have
devoted centers to scleroderma research programs, including the
University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University and the
University of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, While there is no cure for scleroderma, treatment
and management methods are many and differ from patient to
patient; and
WHEREAS, Physicians may prescribe medications to treat or
slow skin changes, dilate blood vessels, suppress the immune
system, reduce digestive symptoms, prevent infections and
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