Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Scleroderma, Erika Lawson

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Scleroderma, also known as sclerosis, is an autoimmune disease causing fibrosis in connective tissues. Symptoms include: skin tightening, stiffness and swelling of fingers, weight loss, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain. Limited scleroderma, also known as CREST syndrome, includes calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia. This presentation is to help increase knowledge of scleroderma pathophysiology and nursing implications that will help medical staff better care for those affected.