Management for musculoskeletal symptoms in systemic sclerosis

Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with systemic sclerosis commonly include arthralgias, myalgias, tenosynovitis and arthritis. For management of these symptoms, see Management for arthralgias, myalgias and arthritis in inflammatory connective tissue diseases.

If corticosteroid therapy is being considered for musculoskeletal symptoms, avoid doses of more than 10 mg prednisolone (or prednisone) daily because of the risk of precipitating scleroderma renal crisis (accelerated hypertension and acute kidney failure).

Inflammatory myositis can be a feature in up to 20% of people with systemic sclerosis. The combination is known as overlap myositis or overlap syndrome (myositis plus an inflammatory connective tissue disease)Denton, 2017. For advice about management for inflammatory myositis, see the separate topic.