Medical Health Encyclopedia

Changes in bones, joints, and muscles may cause the following symptoms:

• Mild arthritis usually distributed symmetrically on both sides of the body.
• Bone loss in the fingers. The destruction is not as severe as it is in rheumatoid arthritis, although the fingers may shorten over time.
• Trouble bending the fingers if the disease has affected the tendons and joints.
• Muscles weakness, especially near the shoulder and hip.

Symptoms in the Gastrointestinal Tract

The development of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms depend on the extent of the condition:

• Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disorder (heartburn and difficulty in swallowing) are common in the upper GI tract.
• If the lower GI tract is affected, patients may become constipated. If scarring in the lower intestine is very severe, watery diarrhea may develop. Many patients have few or even no lower gastrointestinal symptoms, although the disease commonly affects this region.

Symptoms in the Lungs

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In severe cases, the lungs may be affected, causing shortness of breath or difficulty in taking deep breaths. (Shortness of breath may be a symptom of pulmonary hypertension, an uncommon but life-threatening complication of systemic scleroderma.)

Click the icon to see an image of the respiratory system.