[Systemic sclerosis-clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment]

Systemic sclerosis is a rare rheumatologic disease that is characterised by skin and organ fibrosis as well as vascular changes and the occurrence of specific autoantibodies. It has a high morbidity and mortality while its manifestations show significant heterogeneity in patients. Thus, diagnosis and follow-up of patients with systemic sclerosis has to be extensive, the more so because treatment must be adapted to organ manifestations. Although specific therapies for gastrointestinal, pulmonary or vascular complications exist, patients respond only partly to these and new therapeutic approaches are still needed.