Systemic sclerosis with overlap

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that causes fibrosis in the skin and visceral organs. This is a topic of fundamental importance, as systemic sclerosis is considered an orphan disease with no available treatment and significant unmet medical needs. A case report study was conducted, based on the clinical case and scientific analysis of a 49-year-old female patient’s medical history. Digital tools, including search engines, were used to review scientific articles for data collection. The intention of this study was to increase knowledge about this pathology and expand its research field. It was found that autoimmune diseases present a clinical challenge that requires thorough clinical analysis and physical evaluation, as demonstrated in this case. The findings of this research lead to the conclusion that while complementary tests are valuable for confirming diagnoses, they may cause delays and errors when the disease progresses rapidly. In such situations, it is crucial to promptly initiate specific treatments, such as corticosteroid pulses and the use of monoclonal antibodies like rituximab, to prevent complications and reduce the risk of mortality.