Hands turn completely white... I thought it was due to the cold, but a man in his 60s with a terminal illness, what kind of disease is it?

A man diagnosed with the rare disease systemic sclerosis after his fingers turned white, given a prognosis of two years to live, but still alive.

 

Scott Nell (47) experienced symptoms of fingers turning white due to cold, along with extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. Later, when he visited the hospital, it was confirmed that calcium deposits had accumulated at the tips of his fingers, and he was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis is a disease in which the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs become thickened or hardened. [Photo = British media The Sun screenshot]

A story has been revealed about a man in his 40s from the UK who experienced fingers turning white due to the cold and was diagnosed with only two years left to live.

 

According to the UK media The Sun recently, Scott Nell (47) spent time outdoors on a heavily snowing day in November 2017. Due to the cold, he felt a numbness in his fingers and checked his hands. When he took off his gloves, his fingers had turned white. He said, "Suddenly, my hands became unbearably cold," and "When I took off my gloves, my hands were as white as paper."

 

Afterwards, Scott began to feel extreme fatigue. One morning when he woke up, he couldn't straighten his arms and legs, which took several minutes. He also experienced shortness of breath and felt as if his airway was blocked when he tilted his body to one side.

 

In March 2018, Scott visited the hospital after suspecting a health problem, and he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, hereafter referred to as systemic sclerosis). The test results revealed the presence of SCL70 antibodies, which are found in about 20% of patients with systemic sclerosis. Scott's fingertips were covered with calcium deposits. He was also diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon, a related condition. Raynaud's is a disease where blood vessels in the extremities such as the hands, feet, fingers, and toes overreact to temperature changes or stress. He said, "The skin on my fingers was so hard that I couldn't hold anything."

 

Systemic sclerosis can also affect other organs, so a chest X-ray was taken. Fortunately, there were no issues. However, as the disease progressed, complications appeared in 2022, damaging organs such as the lungs. Ultimately, Scott was told he would only live for two more years.

In addition to skin symptoms, internal organs can also be damaged... there is no cure.

 

In addition, symptoms such as arthritis, muscle weakness, and dryness of the mouth and eyes may appear. Organ damage can also occur. As the functions of the heart, lungs, and kidneys decline, conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension may develop. As the disease progresses and inflammation and tissue damage occur, calcium deposits may also form.

 

There is no cure for systemic sclerosis yet. As in the story above, various medications are needed to help manage the symptoms. Since the course of the disease varies depending on the symptoms, regular examinations are conducted not only for the skin but also for the lungs, heart, and other organs.

 

Systemic sclerosis is classified as a rare disease even within the country. The number of patients was approximately 3,900 in 2017, but increased to about 4,200 in 2018 and approximately 4,700 in 2019. If symptoms suspected of the condition appear, it is necessary to consult a rheumatology specialist or other healthcare professionals for accurate testing.

 

Choi Ji-hye jhchoi@kormedi.com

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