Behind The Mystery of Scleroderma: A Rare & Sometimes Deadly Autoimmune Disorder

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disorder involving many systems in the body. It causes inflammation that leads to the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. In the most serious cases, there can be damage to the heart, lungs, and digestive system — sometimes with lethal consequences.

In 1987, scleroderma patient Sharon Monsky founded the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) with the purpose of finding a cure. Although she passed away from disease complications in 2002, her mission lives on today. We spoke with founding SRF Board Member Susan Feniger about her friendship with Sharon and how the SRF continues to drive research forward.

We also sat down with Melissa, a scleroderma patient who shared how her diagnosis has impacted her life, and Dr. Lorinda Chung of the Stanford University School of Medicine to understand the many forms of the disease.

Thanks in large part to the SRF and its generous donors, research is progressing faster than ever before, bringing us closer to a cure.