Irish Raynaud's & Scleroderma Society

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)

Scleroderma is a chronic, non-hereditary disease with no known cause. It is a disease of the immune system, connective tissue, and blood vessels but since it presents differently in different people and progresses at very different rates it is difficult to diagnose.

It has no known cure but is by no means untreatable, and successful medical intervention can prevent damage to the internal organs.

Raynaud’s

Raynaud’s, a condition in which some of the smaller blood vessels malfunction, is nearly always the first symptom.

Other symptoms

Next, in response to over-activity in the immune system, excess collagen builds up in the connective tissue, often on the hands and feet, making them stiff, tight, and shiny, with rigid joints. The connective tissue elsewhere both on and inside the body also thickens and becomes fibrotic and inflexible. How disabling the disease is depends on where and how fast this is taking place.

Learn more at the Annual Conference

This is held in April every year.  The 2010 conference will be held in the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin on Saturday 24th April 2010.  For further information click here.

Contact us for more information.

Look at some photos taken at the 2009 Conference on Saturday 25th April in the Stillorgan Park Hotel, Dublin.

Further Information

You can download documents below with additional information - see Document Downloads