Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
The cause of scleroderma is unknown.
Scleroderma affects both sexes, with a female to male ratio of between three and four to one. It can occur at any age although the peak incidence is 40-60 years.
There are estimated to be over 5,000 persons with scleroderma in Australia.


