Description Scleroderma is unique among our rheumatic diseases both in its clinical expression and its resistance to recovery when using our usual
anti-inflammatory medications. The reason for this difference is now becoming apparent as the biology of the scleroderma process is
better understood. It is now recognized that the disease expression is quite heterogeneous and that several different clinical but distinct
phenotypes exists. This issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics provides a concise update of developments in this area of study and covers
topics such as vascular disease in scleroderma, diagnosis, management of the disease, genetics, novel treatments, scleroderma-like disorders,
and its effect on the heart and lungs.
