Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

The term “progressive systemic sclerosis” is preferred to “scleroderma,” since the skin is not always involved at first and rarely is not involved at all, even in fatal cases. Organic involvement is widespread. There is no satisfactory treatment, but there are measures which moderate the inexorable and fatal course of the disease, and certainly symptomatic relief can be provided. Corticosteroids cannot be endorsed as having a real place in therapy.