CREST syndrome
January 20, 2010 by Staff
Filed under Health Conditions / Ailments
The limited form of scleroderma is often referred to as CREST syndrome. "CREST" is an acronym for the five main features:
- Calcinosis
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Esophageal dysmotility
- Sclerodactyly
- Telangiectasia
CREST is a limited form associated with antibodies against centromeres and usually spares the lungs and kidneys.
CREST is a systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease and usually results in more pathologies than the five symptoms above.
Patients with CREST commonly and slowly produce a pulmonary artery hypertension which can result in heart failure. Blood vessel thrombosis and arteriosclerosis has also led to the necessity of amputation of fingers. Open leg sores can result from burst blood vessels and thin skin, leading to chronic infections. Other symptoms of CREST patients can be exhaustion, weakness, difficulties with breathing, dizziness and badly healing wounds.
The origin of CREST lies in a production of anti-nuclear and anti-centromere antibodies and has been related to Borrelia burgdorferi infections. It is therefore believed that the plasma cells which produce these antibodies have been stimulated by an infection before, though not all patients with CREST have had a Borrelia infection.
There is no cure for this disease as there is no cure for scleroderma in general. It slowly progresses and should be examined and treated as soon as it has been diagnosed with immunosuppressives and other medications.
