Guide To Treating CREST Syndrome

CREST syndrome is a form of the disease called scleroderma, and the clinical features that manifest in patients with this disease are what forms the acronym CREST. Calcinosis, or deposits of calcium that develop underneath the skin of the fingers or other body parts, refers to the 'C' in CREST. The 'R' refers to Raynaud's disease, which is a response to stress or cold that occurs in the toes or fingers where blood vessels have spasms. Esophageal dysmotility or difficulty with swallowing is what the 'E' in CREST refers to. The 'S' stands for a condition where the fingers bend due to a tightening of the skin called sclerodactyly. The 'T' in CREST refers to vessel dilation or telangiectasia that occurs in the skin of the face, inside of the mouth, or on the fingers. At least two of the five symptoms represented in the CREST acronym must be present to receive a diagnosis.