Home / Services & Specialties / Digestive Health / Scleroderma - Causes & Symptoms

Find a Doctor

To search Houston doctors, please select a specialty & submit your Zip Code below.

Select a Specialty

ZIP Code

Advanced Search
Search by Doctor's Name

Schedule Now

To schedule an appointment online, select provider type, service and submit your ZIP code below.

Provider Type

Select a Service

ZIP Code

Appointment available in next 7 days

Advanced Search

Scleroderma Causes & Symptoms

Causes

While the causes of scleroderma are not clear, it has been suggested that exposure to certain chemicals can play a role. Scleroderma is more common in women than men and usually affects people in their 30s to 50s.

Symptoms

Esophageal scleroderma can present with:

weight loss
dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
bloating
regurgitation
severe heartburn

Dysphagia, heartburn, and regurgitation are usually due to reflux and dysmotility of the esophagus. Esophageal strictures and Barrett’s esophagus can also be associated with esophageal scleroderma. The symptoms usually progress slowly with time.