The Scleroderma Society of Canada• isaregisteredcharity

• isthenationalleveladvocacyfor thosewithscleroderma

• supportsprovincialandregional sclerodermagroupsinCanada

• providesinformationand supportforpeoplewith scleroderma

• promotespublicawarenessof scleroderma

• supportssclerodermaresearch andseeksfundingforit.

MembershipintheSclerodermaSocietyofCanadaisavailablebyjoiningaprovincialorregionalsclerodermaorganization.

PleasecontacttheSclerodermaSocietyofCanadaforfurtherinformationregardingmembership.

Scleroderma Society of Canada

1240TaraDriveOttawa,ONK2C2H5

TollFree:1-866-279-0632Fax:(403)452-9125Email:sclero_ca@yahoo.caWebsite:www.scleroderma.ca

Scleroderma

WewouldliketothankDr. S. Edworthy, FRCPCforhisadvicewiththisinformationpamphlet.

DISCLAIMER: THIS PAMPHLET IS MEANT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SCLERODERMA AND IS NOT MEANT TO BE USED AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL OR TO SUGGEST TREATMENT OR MEDICATIONS. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN REGARDING DETAILS OF SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT.

Your Local Scleroderma Group Qui

ck f

acts

Quick Facts

Scleroderma Society of Canada

SSC

SSC

Ifdonationsaremadeinm

emoriam

,pleaseincludethefollowinginform

ation:

Donation m

ade in mem

ory of ______________________________________________________

Contactperson/Nextofkin:_________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________

City:___________________________________________________________________________

Province:___________________________________________PostalCode:_______________

Causes

•definitivecauseisnotknown

•someevidenceof

- ageneticpredispositioninsome studies

- autoimmunity

- aninfectiouscause

- environmentaltriggers

Itattacks

•theimmunesystem

•bodytissue–skin,muscles, ligaments

•internalorgans–lungs,heart, kidneys,esophagusandintestines

• bloodvessels–vascularsystem

scleroderma

Thisresultsin

•overproductionofcollagen

•thickening,hardeningandscarringoftheskin

•bloodvesselsunabletosupplysufficientbloodtomanybodyparts

•scarringofinternalorgans

Earlysymptomscouldinclude

•muscleweaknessandpain

•stiffnessandpaininjoints

•swellingandthickeningofskin

•swallowingdifficulties

•sensitivitytocoldinfingersandtoes

•severefatigue

•breathingdifficulties

•jointandboneaching

Note:notalloftheabovesymptomswouldindicatescleroderma.

Treatments

•noknowncure

•treatmentstargetspecificsymptoms

•treatmentsmayinclude

•steroids

•nonsteroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs

•immunosuppresants

•antibiotics

•somealternativeandcomplementarytherapies

Whoisaffected?

•moreprevalentthanmusculardystrophyormultiplesclerosis

•4outof5affectedarewomenbetween 30–50yearsold

•2to3outof10,000personsisestimatedtobeaffected

What is SCLERODERMA?Scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disorder, which literally means “hard skin.” It is often a life-threatening disease.

Scle

rode

rma

Soci

ety

of C

anad

a

A

Reg

iste

red

Char

ity

Nam

e: _

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

Addr

ess:

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

Phon

e: _

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

em

ail:

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

_

I am

inte

rest

ed in

___

mak

ing

a do

natio

n _

__ in

form

atio

n on

scle

rode

rma

___

info

rmat

ion

on m

embe

rshi

p

Tax

rece

ipts

will

be

issu

ed.

If do

natio

ns a

re m

ade

in m

emor

iam

, ple

ase

see

reve

rse

side

.

All d

onat

ions

are

gre

atly

app

reci

ated

and

are

ded

icat

ed to

rais

ing

publ

ic a

war

enes

s and

to su

ppor

t res

earc

h.