How Do You Know You Have It?
Symptoms of scleroderma are rather unique and you would know immediately if you have it if some of the symptoms would show. If you have scar tissues couple with pain on some parts of your skin most commonly being the knees and elbows then it is mostly sure that you have scleroderma. Take note that this does not develop immediately but rather over time, if you have it in some parts of the skin, it could still spread or develop into another illness.
If you show any symptoms of it, then you should see your doctor immediately to get diagnosed. The diagnosis of this disease is based on clinical findings of the illness. Most likely, your doctor would have you undergo a blood test to see how your antibodies are affecting you. Other tests would include gastrointestinal tests to see how bowel movement is, lung function testing, x-rays, and test to see how the heart is doing.
Scleroderma Treatment
Since scleroderma has no known cause, treatment for it is aimed towards relieving a patient of specific symptoms rather than in attempt to entirely relieve the patient for scleroderma. Being that, a patient who has it is some organs would be treated only to relieve him or her from the symptoms it would bring about.
Since scleroderma is an autoimmune disease, some of the most common approaches for it would involve the use of immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprene, mycophenolate and methotrexate. As for patients whose lungs would get involved, they could benefit from oxygen therapy which could relieve them from shortness of breath and increase blood oxygen level of which they are most likely deprived of.