Progressive systemic sclerosis with intraoral manifestations: A case report and review

The word scleroderma comes from two Greek words, “sclero” meaning hard and “derma” meaning skin. Scleroderma or progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), a rare condition, was first characterized as a single condition in 1752 by Curzio of Naples. It generally affects woman between 30 and 50 years of age and has a low prevalence. Scleroderma is a disease of the immune system, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Dermal manifestations include stiff, tight, and shiny skin usually of the hands and feet due to swelling and thickening of the connective tissue as they become fibrotic or scarred. Other symptoms include difficulty in swallowing, bloating, abdominal pain, tiredness, lack of energy, weight loss, aching muscles, joints, and bones. The vital organs that may get involved are lungs, heart, and kidneys. We present a case report of PSS in a 45-year-old female patient with characteristic systemic and oral manifestations.