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Overview

Scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis (SSc), is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect a number of body systems (i.e., a multisystemic disorder). In patients with systemic sclerosis, certain cells in the body overproduce collagen, which is a protein found in connective tissue (e.g., skin, bone, cartilage, ligaments). Excess collagen is deposited throughout the body, causing hardening of the skin and tissues (called fibrosis), damaging blood vessels, and affecting intern...Read the full article