Systemic sclerosis is the most severe disease within the scleroderma spectrum and is a
major medical challenge with high mortality and morbidity. There have been advances in
understanding of pathogenesis that reflect the interplay between immune-inflammatory
processes and vasculopathy and fibrosis. It can be regarded as a disease of connective
tissue repair and this leads to organ-based complications. However the aetiology and
triggering events remain to be elucidated. Treatment is available for many aspects of the …