Treatment for scleroderma depends upon its type and varies from person to person. Treatments that are followed are:

Medication - various types of medications are used for scleroderma depending upon the symptoms. These include:

   • Calcium channel blockers - these are used to open the blood vessels and for treating Raynaud’s phenomenon and pulmonary artery hypertension. These include: Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor), Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), dihydropyridine (felodipine, amlodipine, and isradipine).

          Side effects are:-  constipation, fluid build up in the feet, fatigue

   • Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors - these drugs are effective for treating scleroderma patients with kidney problem. These include: captopril (Capoten), Enalapril (Vasotec), Quinapril (Accupril), Benazepril, and Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril).

          Side effects are:- blood pressure, allergic reactions and irritating cough

   • Endothelin Receptor Antagonists - these are used to prevent ulcers of fingers and improve functioning of hand by narrowing the blood vessels and improving the blood flow. These are taken by mouth. These include: Bosentan (Tracleer)

   • Prostacyclins - these drugs are used to treat raynaud’s phenomenon and pulmonary artery hypertension. These include:- Alprostadil (prostaglandin E1), Epoprostenol (Flolan), Iloprost (Ventavis), Treprostinil (Remodulin)

   • Immunosupressants - these are used to prevent destruction action of lung by scleroderma. It is taken intravenously, pill form. These include: Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), Methotrexate (Rheumatrex), Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and D-Penicillamine

   • Nitrates - these are used topically as creams, lotions to reduce skin thickening. These include: Nitro-Bid, Nitrol, Nitrong, Nitrostat

Phototherapy - in this procedure long ultraviolet radiation is used to repair the DNA damaged in skin cells. It is used to treat localized Scleroderma. Other form of phototherapy used are:

   • PUVA - this procedure is similar to phototherapy but before performing it,porsalene drugs are given to the patient. It is useful for patients with early onset of scleroderma.

   • Phototherapy with Psoralen Water Bath - in these procedure patients takes bath containing the solution 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). this is used rarely.

Surgery

   Sympathectomy - in this procedure nerves responsible for narrowing blood vessels in hands are removed. This results in increased blood flow.