Overview of Scleroderma Renal Crisis - A Review

Scleroderma renal crisis is a life-threatening condition. It usually starts with a sudden onset of severe hypertension, followed by renal failure, hypertensive encephalopathy, congestive heart failure, and/or microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Renal ischemia, hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and an increase in blood pressure are caused by decreased blood flow caused by structural changes in the blood vessels as well as renal vasospasm ("Raynaud's phenomenon"). This overview discusses the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of scleroderma renal crisis, emphasizing the importance of early detection of disease, strong correlation of corticosteroids intake and the disease incidence, and best approach of such cases.