Lifestyle Modifications and Quality of Life for Scleroderma

Renal Involvement in Scleroderma

Approximately 10-45% of patients with systemic scleroderma develop a condition called scleroderma renal crisis within 4 years of the onset of the disease. Scleroderma renal crisis is characterized by:

• Systemic hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Hyperreninemia - elevation of rennin levels in the blood
• Uremia - increased levels of urea in the blood
• Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
• Kidney failure

Prior to the discovery of a group of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, scleroderma renal crisis was almost uniformly fatal. Prompt diagnosis and early, aggressive therapy with ACE inhibitors has improved the survival rate significantly in recent years.