Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), also known as Scleroderma, is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. Typically, abnormalities in the blood vessels, connective tissue and the immune system occur, resulting in inflammation and fibrosis affecting the skin, digestive system, heart, lungs, muscles, joints and kidneys.

Find out more on the condition here >

About the Systemic Sclerosis Programme

The SGH SSc programme specialises in the evaluation and care of patients with SSc and related conditions. Our goals are to provide excellent and holistic clinical care, and to advance understanding on the cause of disease and best treatment strategies for SSc.

Due to the complexity and multi-organ involvement of SSc, patients are seen at subspecialty clinics where more time can be dedicated to patients who will benefit from expert care to achieve better outcomes. The SSc clinics are helmed by Rheumatologists who are actively involved in clinical or translational research. In addition, there are multi-disciplinary clinics that bring expertise from different disciplines to the patient.

SSc clinic: focusing on the evaluation and early diagnosis of SSc, continued care and treatment of SSc. Patients are seen by the Rheumatologist and supported by the Rheumatology nurse.
Nailfold capillaroscopy clinic : focusing on the early diagnosis of SSc and related conditions, and evaluation of Raynaud’s phenomenon. The Rheumatology nurse will perform a non-invasive procedure to look at the blood vessels of the nailbed.
Combined Respiratory and Rheumatology Interstitial Lung disease (ILD) clinic : as ILD (also known as lung fibrosis) is a complication of SSc, this clinic sees patients with SSc and other autoimmune diseases with more severe or progressive lung fibrosis. Patients are seen by the Rheumatologist and the Respiratory physician, supported by the Rheumatology and Respiratory ILD nurses.
Combined Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) clinic : as PH is a complication of SSc, this clinic sees patients with SSc and other autoimmune diseases for the evaluation and diagnosis of PH, and continued care and treatment of PH. Patients are seen by the Rheumatologist, Cardiologist and the Respiratory physician, supported by the Cardiology PH nurse.
Rheumatology obstetrics clinic : The onset of SSc may occur in women of child-bearing age. This clinic sees patients with SSc and other autoimmune diseases for pre-pregnancy counselling, and provides obstetric care through their pregnancy. Patients are seen by the Obstetrician specializing in high-risk pregnancies, and the Rheumatologist, supported by the Obstetric nurse.

Your Care Team

Research in Systemic Sclerosis

Whilst there is currently no cure for SSc, SSc is a treatable disease. This has relied on advances in research that has made a difference to the lives of patients with SSc. However, we still have a long way to go in understanding the disease.

We need to identify the cause and triggers of SSc, how to detect SSc in its early stages, to identify the different types of SSc and consequently how the disease behaves (e.g. some patients have a very mild and stable spectrum, others have more severe and rapidly worsening spectrum), and how we can better target treatment to bring precision medicine to patients. This means optimising the benefits of treatment whilst minimising the side-effects of medication for the individual person. Research is therefore necessary to continue to discover new treatments and improve the care of patients with SSc.

We hope to make a difference in the lives of patients through research. The clinician researchers and scientists at SGH lead a nation-wide SSc research network and have built a database to allow analysis of clinical data, as well as blood and other tissue samples from patients who have chosen to participate. The team lead and collaborate with renowned local and international academic institutions, and industry to accelerate discoveries and uncover new cures for SSc.

Find out more on our research in Systemic Sclerosis here.

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc, Scleroderma)

About the Systemic Sclerosis Programme

Your Care Team

Research in Systemic Sclerosis