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Tendons, Joints, and Bone

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Scleroderma

Abstract

While tethering of the skin is the clinical hallmark of SSc, many patients may develop musculoskeletal symptoms as an early sign of the disease or during the course of their illness. Manifestations may include varying degrees of rheumatic complaints ranging from symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, arthralgias to frank arthritis, or uncomfortable bony lesions. Musculoskeletal involvement strongly contributes to disability and impaired quality of life in SSc, reducing the performance of everyday occupation (Baron M, Lee P, Keystone EC. The articular manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Ann Rheum Dis. 1982;41(2):147–52; Mau W, Listing J, Huscher D, Zeidler H, Zink A. Employment across chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases and comparison with the general population. J Rheumatol. 2005;32(4):721–8; Brower LM, Poole JL. Reliability and validity of the Duruoz Hand Index in persons with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51(5):805–9; Poole JL, Gallegos M, O’Linc S. Reliability and validity of the arthritis hand function test in adults with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Arthritis Care Res. 2000;13(2):69–73; Poole JL, Steen VD. The use of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) to determine physical disability in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care Res. 1991;4(1):27–31)1–5. Indeed, several cross-sectional studies highlight the major impact of musculoskeletal involvement on the quality of life in SSc. One report investigated the relationship between patient beliefs, symptom report, and clinical/demographic variables.

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  1. Department of Rheumatology, Cochin, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France

    Jérôme Avouac MD, PhD & Yannick Allanore MD, PhD

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  1. Jérôme Avouac MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Jérôme Avouac MD, PhD .

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  1. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, E. Huron Street 240, Chicago, 60611-2909, Illinois, USA

    John Varga

  2. Royal Free and University College, Medical School, University College London, Rowland Street, London, NW3 2PF, United Kingdom

    Christopher P. Denton

  3. School of Medicine, Div. Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, Eastern Avenue 5200, Baltimore, 21224, Maryland, USA

    Fredrick M. Wigley

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Avouac, J., Allanore, Y. (2012). Tendons, Joints, and Bone. In: Varga, J., Denton, C., Wigley, F. (eds) Scleroderma. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5774-0_44

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