The importance of early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease which etiology and pathogenesis is still unknown. The vascular and immunological changes are the major elements of the SSc. The preliminary ACR criteria of SSc are the oldest criteria for rheumatic diseases and are not sensitive enough in respect to early SSc. Many authors suggest that these criteria should be extended by capillaroscopic and immunological changes. In 2001 LeRoy and Medsger proposed new criteria for SSc that could help to identify SSc patients with early stage of the disease. This will give the opportunity for the early and proper treatment.