a rare connective-tissue disease affecting many systems in the body, mainly in women (3-6:1) in their forties. Genetic and autoimmune factors may be implicated. Besides scleroderma, there may be involvement of the lungs, with pulmonary fibrosis; renal failure and gastrointestinal and myocardial disease also occur. See also CREST syndrome.
* * *
see under scleroderma.Medical dictionary. 2011.