Scleroderma and Heredity (Question and Answer)

By Daniel Furst, M.D. (originally published in "Scleroderma Voice," 2002 #4)

Question: Are there any current studies about the inheritance of this disease? I am a female with scleroderma, and I also have a sibling with scleroderma. I worry about my son.

Answer: There are studies that show a genetic predisposition to scleroderma although it is indirect.

Among Choctaw Indians this predisposition is very high, but in the usual population familial inheritance is very uncommon.

Since two members of your family have scleroderma, you should be observant, but it is not something you should worry about day to day.