Scleroderma and Multiple Sclerosis

[NZHeather]

Hello, one of our members in our group has been diagnosed with both Scleroderma and Multiple Sclerosis. Is there anyone out there who also has this dire combination who she can chat with? Thank you Heather

[OldTed60]

Hy there. I thought I’d reply just because no one else has. I don’t know anyone with both personally. However I have quite a neurological type of Sjogren’s as well as EDS and systemic sclerosis and it’s hard to know which is the more active at times. My Sjogren’s was briefly misdiagnosed as MS because it mimicked it pretty well and looked similar in brain and lumbar but finally found to be systemic when lip biopsy confirmed.

Before that I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and told by a neurologist that people with overlaps such as RA/ MS usually have milder/ less aggressive versions of both. I looked this up and it does seem to be right from studies into overlap autoimmunes - although only my systemic sclerosis is antibody positive in my bloodwork so I think this is the one that’s progressing for me now.

MS is relatively common where I live in Scotland whereas SSc is rare meaning less research, dedicated treatments and awareness. I hope your NZ group member doesn’t feel too lonely but glad they have you and your group at least.

[NZHeather in reply to OldTed60]

Hello, thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

In our group we have discussed how the further south of New Zealand there is a higher number of people with Scleroderma. do you think it would be the same in the northerrn hemisphere going further north.

Thank you again Heather

[OldTed60 in reply to NZHeather]

That is interesting. I know that the North of Scotland has highest incidence of MS in world because lots of research has been done to try and find out why. But I suspect data on scleroderma would be much more limited because it’s so rare.