Autoimmune Disease: Scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disorder that causes areas of the skin to thicken and harden. It can be either localized (affecting only the skin and the tissues under the skin) or systemic (affecting blood vessels and organs as well as the skin). ^{1 , 2}

Although anyone can have scleroderma, it occurs more often people who were assigned female at birth than in those who were assigned male at birth. The reason for this disparity is not clear, but it may be caused by differences in hormones or the immune system. ¹

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has an intramural research lab that uses genomic technologies to better understand autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma. The Scleroderma Genomics and Health Disparities Unit is also working to identify specific genetic variants that may increase the risk of scleroderma in African Americans. ³