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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.
