Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body overproduces collagen. This collagen can appear in any of the body’s organs, including the lungs.
It’s essential that scleroderma patients’ lungs are monitored regularly. After a scleroderma diagnosis, the patient should undergo comprehensive pulmonary testing, including spirometry, lung function tests and an FVC test. If these show any abnormalities then doctors will use a CT scan to take an in-depth look at the lungs. This will allow them to see if there are any problems like scarring or inflammation due to pulmonary fibrosis.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, as the disease progresses, scleroderma patients are more susceptible to pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is a lung condition where the blood pressure in the lungs is increased, forcing the right side of the heart to work much harder to pump oxygen-rich blood back to the lungs. If left untreated, pulmonary hypertension can lead to heart failure.
A rapid onset of pulmonary hypertension often appears in patients with limited scleroderma who have only had mild symptoms of the disease. Early diagnosis is crucial so that further damage can be prevented. It’s advisable for scleroderma patients to have a 2D echocardiogram annually.
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