Lupus and Scleroderma: similarities and differences
It is so funny, because you meet one doctor and he tells you that you have lupus and the other time you visit another doctor, which happens in the hospital all the time, that you have scleroderma. Well the first thing is that both of them are autoimunne diseases. The typical age onset for lupus is between 15 to 40, and for scleroderma between 20 to 60.
Scleroderma has four pathologic process: inflammation, collagenosis, scarring of tissues, and Raynaud's syndrome. Lupus is an inflammatory process. Some symptoms however overlap, such as Raynaud's syndrome (occurrence rate 90 per cent for scleroderma, 30 per cent for lupus), positive ANA (occurrence rate 80 per cent for scleroderma, 98 per cent for lupus).
If anti-RNP is present in the blood test, it can be a mixed connective tissue disease, especially if Raynaud's syndrome is present. Which is my case. Tight skin is not common thing for people with lupus and sun sensitivity is not found in scleroderma.
Medication: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication help both conditions. Most people with pure scleroderma do not benefit from corticosteroids. Methotrexate, azathioprine, prednisone help lupus and overlapping syndromes. On the other hand d-penicillamine, ralxine and minocycline help people with scleroderma and not with lupus.
Just to be sure you remember. There are several typical diseases which overlap with lupus, including scleroderma. Typical second, or third etc. diagnosis develop shortly after the first diagnose. I would say them sometimes it is hard what was actually first. When I was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disorder, I was already having autoimunne thyroid disease, since I was in the university. But I am not sure when I have saw the symptoms of lupus for the first time. But for sure I started to have Raynaud's syndrome later and skin thickening may be around age of 32.
It is pretty clear that overlapping diseases are hard to recognize and separate them.
Have a nice day!!
It is so funny, because you meet one doctor and he tells you that you have lupus and the other time you visit another doctor, which happens in the hospital all the time, that you have scleroderma. Well the first thing is that both of them are autoimunne diseases. The typical age onset for lupus is between 15 to 40, and for scleroderma between 20 to 60.
Scleroderma has four pathologic process: inflammation, collagenosis, scarring of tissues, and Raynaud's syndrome. Lupus is an inflammatory process. Some symptoms however overlap, such as Raynaud's syndrome (occurrence rate 90 per cent for scleroderma, 30 per cent for lupus), positive ANA (occurrence rate 80 per cent for scleroderma, 98 per cent for lupus).
If anti-RNP is present in the blood test, it can be a mixed connective tissue disease, especially if Raynaud's syndrome is present. Which is my case. Tight skin is not common thing for people with lupus and sun sensitivity is not found in scleroderma.
Medication: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication help both conditions. Most people with pure scleroderma do not benefit from corticosteroids. Methotrexate, azathioprine, prednisone help lupus and overlapping syndromes. On the other hand d-penicillamine, ralxine and minocycline help people with scleroderma and not with lupus.
Just to be sure you remember. There are several typical diseases which overlap with lupus, including scleroderma. Typical second, or third etc. diagnosis develop shortly after the first diagnose. I would say them sometimes it is hard what was actually first. When I was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disorder, I was already having autoimunne thyroid disease, since I was in the university. But I am not sure when I have saw the symptoms of lupus for the first time. But for sure I started to have Raynaud's syndrome later and skin thickening may be around age of 32.
Autoimmune thyroid disease
Celiac disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
Scleroderma
Sjögren's syndrome
It is pretty clear that overlapping diseases are hard to recognize and separate them.
Have a nice day!!
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