Paula Rackoff

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Osteoporosis SLE is a chronic, inflammatory multisystem disease of uncertain etiology with protean laboratory and clinical manifestations, which primarily affects women. Patients have a variable clinical course and prognosis. Immunologic dysregulation gives rise to excessive amounts of autoantibodies which result in immune inflammation and/or cytotoxic damage. The clinical features can…

Are You Sure the Patient Has Scleroderma? Scleroderma is a generalized connective tissue disorder affecting the skin and internal organs and is characterized by fibrotic arteriosclerosis of peripheral and visceral vasculature. Accumulation of extracellular matrix (mostly collagen) occurs in both skin and viscera. Scleroderma patients are classified into subsets of disease by the degree of…