The Treatment of Modern Western - Biblio.nhat-nam.ru

70SCLERODERMAAlso referred to as progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS),scleroderma is a chronic, progessive, autoimmune disease ofunknown etiology which is characterized by diffuse fibrosis,degenerative changes, and vascular abnormalities in the skin,articular structures, and internal organs. The internal organswhich may be affected by this fibrosis include the esophagus,intestinal tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys. PSS occurs inwomen four times more often than in men. It is comparativelyrare in children. The severity and progression of thisdisease are highly variable, but, if it progresses to the internalorgans, it may be fatal.The initial symptoms are Raynaud’s phenomenon andinsidious thickening of the acral portions of the extremitieswith gradual thickening of the skin of the fingers.Polyarthralgia is another prominent early symptom. In afew cases, heartburn and difficulty swallowing or dyspneamay be the first manifestations of this disease. Indurationof the skin is symmetrical and may be confined to thefingers or affect most or all of the body. As the diseaseprogresses, the skin becomes taut, shiny, and hyperpigmented.The face becomes mask-like and telangiectasesappear on the fingers, chest, face, lips, and tongue.Subcutaneous calcifications develop on the fingertips orover bony prominences. Friction rubs develop over thejoints, tendon sheaths, and large bursae, and there maybe flexion contractures of the fingers, wrists, and elbows.Trophic ulcers on the fingertips and finger joints arecommon.Esophageal dysfunction is the most common visceral disturbanceand eventually occurs in most patients.Dysphagia, acid reflux, and peptic esophagitis are all common.Exertional dyspnea is the most common early stagecardiorespiratory symptom. Pulmonary hypertension maydevelop as well as cardiac arrhythmias and other ECGabnormalities. This may eventually evolve into chroniccardiac failure. Accelerated or malignant hypertension maybe due to severe renal disease which, if left untreated, mayprogress to irreversible renal insufficiency and death.In terms of Western medical diagnosis, RFs are found inapproximately 1/3 of PSS patients. Serum antinuclear and/orantinuclear antibodies are found in 90% of patients. NoWestern medication has shown significant effect on the treatmentof PSS, and the course of this disease is variable andunpredictable. In some patients, it is only slowly progressive.However, prognosis is poor in those patients with early heart,lung, and/or kidney involvement.DISEASE CATEGORIZATION: This disease is mainlycategorized as bi zheng, impediment condition, pi bi, skinimpediment, and feng bi, wind impediment. Dysphagia iscategorized as ye ge, dysphagia occlusion, while acid regurgitationis categorized as tun suan, swallowing acid.DISEASE CAUSES: Contraction of wind damp evils dueto qi and blood vacuityDISEASE MECHANISMS: Due to qi and blood vacuity,the defensive exterior is not secure. This allows externalinvasion of wind damp evils which obstruct in the skin,the muscles and flesh, and the sinews and bones. Thisleads to disharmony of the constructive and defensiveand impediment and obstruction of the channels andvessels. The movement and transportation of the qi andblood become uneasy or not smooth. If severe, thisimpediment and congestion result in complete non-freeflow to the affected area and loss of regulation of the visceraand bowels. If this endures, it damages yang andconsumes the qi, with the spleen and kidneys bothbecoming vacuous.