scleroderma
noun
sclero·der·ma
ˌskler-ə-ˈdər-mə 
: a usually slowly progressive disease marked by the deposition of fibrous connective tissue in the skin and often in internal organs and structures
Examples of scleroderma in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
June is health awareness month for Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, myasthenia gravis (a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder), aphasia (a communications disorder), congenital cytomegalovirus, migraines, scleroderma and scoliosis.
—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
For around 20 years, Kelly has been living with scleroderma, an autoimmune condition where his body attacks itself.
—
Dennis Valera,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Systemic scleroderma rarely affects younger people, says Kassandra's mom, but fortunately, her doctors caught the symptoms early; she was officially diagnosed in 2018.
—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
In some cases, though, Raynaud’s occurs secondarily to other health conditions, often autoimmune ones like scleroderma or lupus, Swosty Tuladhar, MD, a rheumatologist at Summit Health, tells SELF.
—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
6 Feb. 2025
That paper described outcomes of 15 people with lupus, scleroderma, or myositis between 4 and 29 months after CAR-T therapy.
—
Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel,
science.org,
14 Nov. 2024
The study included more than 2,200 people with the autoimmune disease scleroderma.
—
John Loeppky,
Verywell Health,
31 Oct. 2024
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Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
For around 20 years, Kelly has been living with scleroderma, an autoimmune condition where his body attacks itself.
—
Dennis Valera,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Systemic scleroderma rarely affects younger people, says Kassandra's mom, but fortunately, her doctors caught the symptoms early; she was officially diagnosed in 2018.
—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
In some cases, though, Raynaud’s occurs secondarily to other health conditions, often autoimmune ones like scleroderma or lupus, Swosty Tuladhar, MD, a rheumatologist at Summit Health, tells SELF.
—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
6 Feb. 2025
That paper described outcomes of 15 people with lupus, scleroderma, or myositis between 4 and 29 months after CAR-T therapy.
—
Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel,
science.org,
14 Nov. 2024
The study included more than 2,200 people with the autoimmune disease scleroderma.
—
John Loeppky,
Verywell Health,
31 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Scleroderma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scleroderma. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
scleroderma
noun
sclero·der·ma
ˌskler-ə-ˈdər-mə
plural sclerodermas also sclerodermata
-mət-ə
: a usually slowly progressive disease marked by the deposition of fibrous connective tissue in the skin and often in internal organs and structures, by hand and foot pain upon exposure to cold, and by tightening and thickening of the skin
No treatment exists to reverse scleroderma, and when it moves to the digestive system, kidneys, heart, and lungs, it is often fatal.—J. Lee Nelson, Natural History
J. Lee Nelson, Natural HistoryWhen physicians suspect scleroderma, they may use several diagnostic tests to distinguish it from other connective tissue disorders.—Peta Gillyatt, Harvard Health Letter
Peta Gillyatt, Harvard Health Lettercalled also dermatosclerosis
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