LEARN CENTER

The SFDF provides these resources to encourage and facilitate learning about scleroderma and fibrotic diseases.

The Learn Center is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know!

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma encompasses a group of chronic connective tissue diseases that are generally classified as autoimmune rheumatic diseases…

Types of Scleroderma: Systemic

Systemic scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis or SSc, affects connective tissue in many parts of the body…

Types of Scleroderma: Localized

Localized scleroderma usually affects a few areas on the skin or muscles…

Effects of Systemic Scleroderma

Systemic scleroderma can affect the lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract…

Related Conditions: Raynaud's

Raynaud’s Phenomenon is the most common early symptom of systemic scleroderma…

Related Conditions: Sjögren's

Over 20% of systemic scleroderma patients have Sjögren’s Syndrome…

Related Conditions: Gastrointestinal

Scleroderma can cause dysmotility (abnormally slow movement of food) in the digestive process…

Related Conditions: Pulmonary

Pulmonary (lung) involvement in systemic scleroderma can result from multiple factors…

Ages of Onset: Pediatric v.s. Adult Onset

Pediatric onset scleroderma is defined as cases of scleroderma in which the patient is less than 18 years old when symptoms begin…

What is Fibrosis?

Fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue during a reparative or reactive process…

Types of Fibrosis: Pulmonary

Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung condition characterized by damaged and scarred lung tissue…

Types of Fibrosis: Hepatic

Liver fibrosis (cirrhosis) is a condition characterized by scar tissues and nodules that replace liver tissue and disrupt normal liver function…

Types of Fibrosis: Cardiac

Cardiac fibrosis is a condition characterized by scar tissue that replaces heart muscle tissue…

Types of Fibrosis: Renal

Renal fibrosis is a condition in which scarring occurs in the kidney…

Key Terms

We’ve compiled an alphabetical list of key terms for you to explore…