Title: CREST syndrome - Wikipedia
Headings: CREST syndrome
CREST syndrome
Contents
Signs and symptoms
Calcinosis
Raynaud's phenomenon
Esophageal dysmotility
Sclerodactyly
Telangiectasias
Other
Cause
Diagnosis
Treatment
Epidemiology
History
See also
References
External links

Content: The number of telangiectasias and the sites involved tend to increase over time. Other
Other symptoms of CREST syndrome can be exhaustion, weakness, difficulties with breathing, pain in hands and feet, dizziness and badly healing wounds. Patients with lcSSc commonly induce pulmonary artery hypertension which may result in cor pulmonale ( heart failure due to increased pulmonary artery pressure). Cause
Crest syndrome involves the production of autoimmune anti-nuclear and anti-centromere antibodies, though their cause is not currently understood. There is no known infectious cause. Diagnosis
CREST is not easily diagnosed as it closely mimics symptoms of other connective tissue and autoimmune diseases. Diagnoses are usually given when a patient presents two or more of the five major clinical symptoms. Additionally, blood exams can be given to test for a positive ANAs and ACAs or skin biopsies can be given to help confirm a diagnosis. Treatment
Disease progression may be slowed with immunosuppressives and other medications, and esophageal reflux, pulmonary hypertension and Raynaud phenomenon may benefit from symptomatic treatment. However, there is no cure for this disease as there is no cure for scleroderma in general.