If you or a loved one were diagnosed with scleroderma or systemic sclerosis after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a Camp Lejeune scleroderma lawsuit case or settlement claim.
A team of personal injury lawyers and class action attorneys is investigating potential Camp Lejeune lawsuit cases and settlement claims of individuals who were diagnosed with scleroderma after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base.
Scleroderma (a/k/a systemic sclerosis) is a chronic automimmune disease in which the body overproduces and accumulates collagen (a fibrous type of protein) in the skin and other organs of the body causing inflammation and other abormalities, such as thickening, hardening or tightening of the skin and scarring or damage to internal organs (such as the heart and blood vessels, lungs, stomach and kidneys).
According to John Hopkin’s medicine, as many as 300,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with scleroderma, and as many as 10,000 die each year from the most serious forms of scleroderma.
Camp Lejeune Scleroderma Lawsuit Claims
Camp Lejeune scleroderma lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims of individuals who were diagnosed with scleroderma after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, including:
- Scleroderma
- Systemic scleroderma
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc)
- Localized scleroderma
- Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
- CREST syndrome
- Diffuse cutaneous systemic scleroderma
- Sine sclerosis
- Other Camp Lejeune toxic water injury claims
There are two types of scleroderma: systemic scleroderma (that can affect skin, muscles, joints, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys, heart and other organs) and localized scleroderma (that usually only affects skin).
In addition, there are several forms of systemic scleroderma: limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (CREST syndrome), diffuse cutaneous systemic scleroderma and sine sclerosis. Limited scleroderma is the most common type of scleroderma and involves skin hardening and tightening limited to fingers, hands, arms or face. Diffuse scleroderma involves skin hardening and tightening over large areas of the body, including internal organs. Sine sclerosis involves features of systemic organ disease, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, without skin symptoms.
Likewise, there are various forms of localized scleroderma: circumscribed morphea (involving one or a few discolored oval patches of skin), generalized morphea (involving many morphea patches on the trunk, arms, head or neck), linear scleroderma (involving single bands of patches on an arm or leg) and scleroderma en coup de sabre or “cut from a sword” scleroderma (involving a line of patches on the forehead).
Scleroderma Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of scleroderma or systemic sclerosis can include:
- Thickening of the skin
- Hardening of the skin
- Tightening of the skin
- Sensitivity to cold in extremities
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing
- Joint stiffness and pain
- Joint contractures (rigidity)
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Itchiness
- Change in skin color
- Morphea
- Small red dots on skin (telangiectasia)
- Ulcerations on fingertips and toes
- Calcium deposits under skin (calcinosis)
- Thick skin on fingers (sclerodactyly)
- Digestive problems
- Esophageal dysmotility
- Heartburn
- Bloating
- Difficulty swallowing
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Heart problems
- Lung problems
- Damage to internal organs
- Other systemic sclerosis or scleroderma symptoms
Procedures and tests used by doctors (such as rheumatologists or dermatologists) to diagnose scleroderma can include a physical exam, medical history, blood tests (to check for elevated levels of immune factors such as antinuclear antibodies), pulmonary function tests (to check for scar tissue in lungs), electrocardiogram (to check for damage to heart), echocardiogram (to evaluate for pulmonary hypertension and/or congestive heart failure), skin biopsy, gastrointestinal tests, kidney function tests (to check for kidney disease such as scleroderma renal crisis), and imaging tests (such as CT scans, and x-rays, etc.).
Systemic Sclerosis or Scleroderma Complications
Complications from scleroderma can include damage to skin, interstitial lung disease ILD (scarring of lung tissue or pulmonary fibrosis), pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in arteries in lungs), Raynaud’s phenomenon (where smaller arteries that supply blood to skin in fingers, toes, ears, and nose constrict too much in response to cold, limiting blood supply and causing numbness or color changes), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other digestive problems, kidney damage (scleroderma renal crisis, renal failure, etc.), cardiac or heart issues (such as myocardial disease, conduction system defects, arrhythmias, or pericardial disease), musculoskeletal disorders of the joints (e.g., arthritis), tendons (e.g., tenosynovitis) and muscles (e.g., myalgia, myositis, etc.) and/or death, among others.
Scleroderma Treatment
As there is presently no cure for scleroderma, treatment of scleroderma involves managing symptoms of the disease and slowing disease progression, including skin treatments (e.g., topical medications, moisturizers to prevent dry skin, and nitrates to improve blood flow), digestive treatments (e.g., heartburn medications), lung treatments (to improve lung function in those with pulmonary fibrosis), calcium channel blockers (to treat Raynaud’s phenomenon), blood pressure medications, lung transplant, anti-inflammatory medications, excercise, avoiding strain on joints, healthy diet, getting proper sleep and rest, among others.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with scleroderma after being exposed to water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to compensation from a Camp Lejeune scleroderma lawsuit or settlement. Contact an injury lawyer to request a free case review.
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