Title: CREST syndrome causes, signs, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment
Headings: CREST syndrome
CREST syndrome
What is CREST syndrome
Is CREST syndrome fatal?
What is systemic sclerosis?
Systemic sclerosis has been subdivided into 2 main subtypes, according to the distribution of skin involvement.
Key features of systemic sclerosis
Systemic sclerosis causes
Genetic susceptibility
Triggering event
Immune pathways
Paraneoplastic systemic sclerosis
Systemic sclerosis pathophysiology
Systemic sclerosis symptoms
Cutaneous features of systemic sclerosis
Skin sclerosis
Hands
Face
Other
Rarer cutaneous features
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Upper gastrointestinal tract
Lower gastrointestinal tract
Cardiopulmonary symptoms
Renal disease
Other symptoms
Systemic sclerosis diagnosis
Investigations may include:
Systemic sclerosis treatment
General advice
Anti-fibrotic therapies
Topical therapies:
Physical therapies:
Systemic therapies:
Vasodilation
Treatment of skin manifestations
Raynaud phenomenon
Digital ulcers
Telangiectases
Calcinosis
Pruritus
Facial fat loss
Treatment of internal organ manifestations
Interstitial lung disease
Pulmonary artery hypertension
Renal disease
Gastrointestinal tract
Systemic sclerosis monitoring
Skin
Internal organs
CREST syndrome causes
Risk factors for CREST syndrome
CREST syndrome symptoms
CREST syndrome symptoms and signs include:
CREST syndrome complications
CREST syndrome diagnosis
CREST syndrome treatment
Medications
Therapy
Surgery
CREST syndrome life expectancy
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Content: calcium deposits in the connective tissues
(R) – Raynaud’s phenomenon: where the hands and feet turn white and cold and then blue, in response to cold or anxiety
(E) – Esophageal dysfunction resulting in swallowing difficulty
(S) – Sclerodactyly: thick and tight skin on the fingers, caused by an excess of collagen deposits within skin layers. (T) – Telangiectasia: small red spots on the hands and face that are caused by the swelling of tiny blood vessels. CREST syndrome is believed to be an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system appears to stimulate the production of too much collagen which builds up in the skin and internal organs, impairing their function. The problems caused by limited scleroderma may be minor. Sometimes, however, the disease affects the lungs or heart, with potentially serious results. Limited scleroderma has no known cure. Treatments focus on managing symptoms, preventing serious complications and improving quality of life 2).