CROSS-SYNDROME with scleroderma: symptoms and treatment

CROSS-syndrome is a systemic scleroderma of limited form. This variety becomes the reason that the body produces in the skin an excessive amount of collagen. The disease can affect almost every part of the body. Its signs often appear gradually and deteriorate with time. Scleroderma is a pathology of connective tissue of a chronic nature, affecting the skin and a number of internal organs of a person. At the heart of this disease is a defect in the signs of the connective tissue framework, in connection with which there are sclerotic changes expressed as the appearance of coarse fibrous non-functional fibers, that is, scar tissue.

How does the CROSS-syndrome manifest in scleroderma?

Features of the disease

Scleroderma is a rheumatological autoimmune disease. The term "autoimmune" means that this ailment is caused by a malfunction of the immune system, which, due to the influence of various circumstances, attacks the tissues and cells of its own organism. As a consequence, an inflammatory reaction occurs, leading to tightening and thinning of blood vessels, skin and some internal organs, such as the esophagus, stomach, kidneys, lungs, heart, intestines. Although the lesion may have a different localization, it is not possible to delineate exactly the forms of scleroderma. Moreover, a number of famous researchers believe that both forms of the disease are the result of the same pathological process.

The life of patients is significantly complicated with the advent of scleroderma. This is primarily due to a decrease in physical activity and pain, which can make itself felt in a number of cases. Because of digestive problems, patients have to adhere to a special diet and eat small portions, but often. Degenerative-sclerotic skin changes cause patients to constantly monitor the amount of moisturizing and be especially cautious during exercise or any physical activity. The causes of the CROSS-syndrome are not fully understood.

The psychological discomfort of

In addition, many patients suffering from scleroderma feel psychological discomfort caused by thoughts of a disease that is currently chronic and incurable. Since such an ailment can cause significant external changes, the image of a person and self-esteem suffer, which results in various personal and social conflicts.

Psychological support of patients with scleroderma on the part of household members, relatives and friends is extremely important. It will preserve the necessary quality of life.

What causes scleroderma

Scleroderma is a chronic acquired pathology of connective tissue, and its exact cause has not yet been clarified. But thanks to the improvement of medicine, laboratory diagnostics and molecular biology, it is now possible to identify and study the main pathological mechanisms that are involved in the development of the disease. Now there are a number of theories describing the factors that are capable of provoking scleroderma, and the peculiarities of its effect.

It is generally accepted that in the appearance of scleroderma and CREST syndrome, factors such as:

• inflammatory;
• genetic;
• is infectious;
• is an autoimmune;
• environment;
• some medicines.

Systemic scleroderma

Scleroderma of a systemic nature is an autoimmune pathology of connective tissue that leads to the stimulation of the immune system, resulting in a hard tissue and skin containing too much collagen. This form of scleroderma can lead to exhaustion of the patient's body. Among her symptoms are the following:

• muscular atrophy;
• increased intestinal volume;
• pulmonary fibrosis;
• augmentation of the heart;
• kidney failure;
• attacks of coughing and choking;
• circulatory failure.

CROSS-syndrome refers to a form of systemic scleroderma that is limited and mild, manifested primarily on the skin.

Symptoms of

The name of the syndrome is an abbreviation formed from the first letters of the English names of the symptoms characteristic of the disease:

• C - calcinosis is a calcification that affects soft tissues.
• R - Raynaud's disease( Raynaud's phenomenon).
• E is an esophageal dysmotility, that is, defects in the esophageal motility.
• S - sclerodactylia( sclerodactyly) - thickening of the skin on the fingers.
• T - telangiectasia( telangiectasia) - enlargement of small blood vessels.

Symptoms of the CROSS-syndrome are rather unpleasant.

The deposition of calcium salts in soft tissues can be determined from an x-ray. There is calcification on the face, fingers of the hands, skin of the elbows and knees, trunk. If under the influence of calcification the skin bursts, then painful ulcers are formed.

Raynaud's Disease

What is this mysterious disease? Raynaud's disease is an unexpected arterial spasm, most often of the fingers and, more rarely, of the legs, which occurs under the influence of strong emotions or cold. It manifests itself in the form of cooling and blanching, and then blueing of the fingers or their pads. When the attack is completed, the fingers turn red and get inflamed, in addition, there is a feeling of heat in the hands. This can lead also to the occurrence of ischemia, scars, ulcers and gangrene.

The CROSS syndrome also includes esophageal motility defects that appear due to loss of normal mobility of the smooth muscles of the esophagus. The patient has problems with swallowing, heavy heartburn and inflammation of the esophagus may also form.

Because of the coarsening of the skin on the pads of the fingers, it is difficult to bend and straighten the fingers. On the face and hands there are small red spots, the cause of which is the enlargement of small blood vessels. These changes are of a local nature and represent, for the most part, a cosmetic problem.

The CROSS syndrome is characterized by a slow course, with a better prognosis than with a systemic scleroderma that affects, in addition to the skin, also tissues, blood vessels, internal organs, bones and muscles.

Therapy of pathology

How can a patient with such a diagnosis be helped?

The prescribed therapy in a timely manner greatly increases the patient's chances of successful completion and the absence of disability in the future. When the first symptoms of the disease are found, you should immediately contact a specialist. Doctors are also advised to check periodically for people whose relatives also suffered from a similar ailment, since there is a hereditary predisposition. There is no clear therapeutic system, since there are a large number of methods and varieties that are used depending on the nature of the development of the disease and its form. Treatment of CROSS-syndrome with scleroderma differs symptomatic character, most often used anti-inflammatory and restorative means, thanks to which the patient gradually return the lost motor activity.

Medications for the speedy recovery of

If infections are detected in the body, antibiotics are used. With the rapid development of Raynaud's syndrome, it is necessary to use calcium channel blockers to prevent the destruction of bone tissue, in some cases, surgical intervention is required( if the calcium accumulation is large).Danger is also a pulmonary form of the disease. In the presence of difficulties with breathing, small doses of immunosuppressants and corticosteroids, as well as lung vasodilators( observation in the dispensary) are prescribed to the patient. If the specialist carries out the correct treatment, the patients can go on the amendment and live more than ten children. With pulmonary fibrosis of a progressive nature, the prognosis is heavier. We examined what the CROSS-syndrome is.