CREST Synrdome
CREST syndrome is a slow form of Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease causing abnormalities in the blood vessels, degenerative changes, and the scarring of internal organs and joints. Women are four times more likely to develop CREST syndrome. Though this disease is slow-moving and the prognosis for scleroderma and CREST syndrome competes for top spot for damage, CREST is very damaging over time—causing the skin to darken and tighten. This can result in overall stiffness or difficulty forming facial expressions. It can cause problems with swallowing or digestion due to scar tissue that can form in the esophagus.
Symptoms of CREST Syndrome
Some symptoms of CREST are painful joints, heartburn, trouble swallowing that can lead to weight loss and shortness of breath that sometimes develops. Other symptoms may include swelling and thickening of the fingers or tingling and paling of the fingers. There is sometimes scarring present around the joints that can cause fingers, wrists, and other joints to stay in a flexed position. Sometimes sufferers experience a grating sound made by joints that are inflamed. Typically, as fingers warm they become bluish in color. CREST can cause heart anomalies such as abnormal rhythms and heart failure.
Treatment for CREST Syndrome
At Sunridge Medical we offer a personalized approach to Crest treatment. Our team of dedicated physicians will work with you to develop an individualized plan that best suits your needs. We understand that Crest Syndrome can be a difficult condition to live with and we are here to help. Our team will provide you with support, education, and insight into Crest Syndrome treatment options so that you can make informed decisions about your care. We strive to empower our patients to take an active role in their own healthcare journey.
We are committed to providing excellent Crest Syndrome treatments while keeping patient comfort and safety as top priorities. At Sunridge Medical, we use advanced technology and cutting-edge medical techniques combined with traditional methods of diagnosis and care for Crest syndrome treatment. Our physicians are highly trained and experienced in Crest Syndrome diagnosis and treatment, so you can trust that you will receive the best care available.
We understand how Crest Syndrome can impact your life, both physically and emotionally. At Sunridge Medical, our team is dedicated to providing you with compassionate care that meets your needs and ensures a positive outcome for your health. Contact us today to find out more about Crest Syndrome treatment at Sunridge Medical! We look forward to helping you achieve your best health.
Experience the difference at Sunridge Medical today – contact us now to schedule an appointment or get more information about Crest Syndrome treatment options. We look forward to helping you achieve your best health!
Research on CREST Syndrome
Halachmi, S., Gabari, O., Cohen, S. et al. Telangiectasis in CREST syndrome and systemic sclerosis: correlation of clinical and pathological features with response to pulsed dye laser treatment. Lasers Med Sci 29, 137–140 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-013-1298-1
Abstract: Telangiectasia are cardinal features of systemic sclerosis (SS) and calcinosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, esophageal motility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasias (CREST). The etiology of telangiectasia in these syndromes is unknown, but vascular dysfunction has been proposed. However, the telangiectasia of CREST have anecdotally been considered relatively resistant to pulse dye laser (PDL), the treatment of choice for classic telangiectasia.
The study was designed to test whether SS/CREST telangiectasia require more treatments than sporadic telangiectasia and to identify clinical and histological features that could explain such an effect. Nineteen skin biopsies from patients with SS or CREST and 10 control biopsies were examined and compared for features that may predict a differential response to PDL. Sixteen cases of SS or CREST treated with PDL between 1997 and 2007 were evaluated and response to treatment was compared with 20 patients with sporadic telangiectasis.
Relative to normal skin, CREST/scleroderma telangiectasia exhibited thickened vessels in 17 out of 19 sections and thickened collagen fibers in the reticular or deep dermis in all sections. The number of treatments required to clear SS/CREST telangiectasia was approximately twofold higher. SS/CREST telangiectasia are more resistant to PDL but can be effectively cleared with more treatments.
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