CREST syndrome affecting a 50 year old Hispanic female patient's hand. CREST is a form of scleroderma, a chronic, rheumatic autoimmune disease. It is an acronym for its five main features. Calcinosis - formation of calcium deposits in soft tissue; Raynaud's phenomenon - discolouration of the fingers and toes caused by decreased blood supply; osophageal motility disorder - difficulty in swallowing; sclerodactyly - a localized thickening and tightness of the skin of the fingers or toes; telangiectasias - small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. The condition has been related to previous Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria infections. There is no cure. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / RICHARD USATINE MD |
Bildgröße: | 3413 px × 2560 px |
Modell-Rechte: | vorhanden |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: |
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