Get answers to your specific medical questions from UM Medical Center experts.
An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of scleroderma.
Systemic sclerosis
Pilocarpine (Salagen) has been approved for treating dry mouth found in people with scleroderma and Sjogren syndrome. In one study, patients with Sjogren syndrome experienced increased salivation after the first dose. Patients reported improvement in being able to speak, sleep, and swallow food without drinking. Side effects include sweating, increased need to urinate, chills, and flushing.
Sympathectomy and Hand Surgeries. Sympathectomy uses procedures that block or removes the nerve responsible for narrowing blood vessels in the hand. The result is increased blood flow in the hand.
The local anesthetics lidocaine or bupivacaine may be very effective in temporarily restoring blood flow and reducing pain.
For finger ulcers that won't heal and are resistant to standard treatments, sympathectomy surgery may be performed.
Other Surgeries. Disabling deformity of the hand is a common feature of scleroderma. Various surgical procedures can relieve pain, prevent tissue loss, protect hand function, and improve the appearance of hands.
|
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). |