What is the Difference Between Stiff Person Syndrome and Scleroderma

The key difference between stiff person syndrome and scleroderma is that stiff person syndrome is an autoimmune neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness in the trunk and abdomen, while scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue and rheumatic disease that causes inflammation in the skin and problems in other areas of the body such as muscles, joints, bones, internal organs, and blood vessels.

An autoimmune disease occurs due to the immune system accidentally attacking its own body cells instead of protecting them. There are over 100 autoimmune diseases. Stiff person syndrome and scleroderma are two autoimmune diseases characterized by the rigidity of different parts of the body.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Stiff Person Syndrome
3. What is Scleroderma
4. Similarities – Stiff Person Syndrome and Scleroderma
5. Stiff Person Syndrome vs. Scleroderma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Stiff Person Syndrome vs. Scleroderma

What is Stiff Person Syndrome?

Stiff person syndrome is a rare chronic condition that triggers muscle stiffness and painful muscle spasms in the body. People with this condition normally experience muscle stiffness in the trunk and abdomen and stiffness and spasms in the legs and other muscles. This syndrome is caused by antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which involves making a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that helps control muscle movement.

The risk factors for this condition are being female at birth, people who are in their 30s and 40s, and people who suffer from other autoimmune conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, and celiac disease. Moreover, the main symptoms of stiff person syndrome may include muscle stiffness or rigidity, painful muscle spasms, and limited ability to perform daily activities.

Stiff person syndrome can be diagnosed through physical examinations, neurological examinations, antibody blood tests, electromyography (EMG), and lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Furthermore, treatment options for stiff person syndrome may include medicines like benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants (Baclofen), neuropathic pain medications, physical therapy, massage, hydrotherapy, heat therapy, acupuncture, and immunotherapy.

What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that results in the hardening and tightening of the skin. Scleroderma may cause problems in blood vessels, internal organs, and digestive tract, as well. Moreover, symptoms of this condition may include hard, thickening, or tight skin, hair loss, less sweating, dry skin, itchiness, skin colour changes, salt and pepper look in the skin, stiff joints, muscle shortening and weakness, loss of tissue beneath the skin, sores or pitted scars on the fingers, calcium deposits beneath the skin, visible blood vessels, extreme sensitivity to cold, stress or both, problems with swallowing, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, bloated feeling after eating, unintentional weight loss, high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, and lack of sex drive.

Stiff Person Syndrome and Scleroderma - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 01: Scleroderma

It is believed that in scleroderma, the immune system malfunctions, leading the body to overproduce collagen. The risk factors for scleroderma include gender (women are more likely than men to get scleroderma), age (one type tends to develop before 18 years of age while the other types are most likely to begin between the ages of 30 and 50), race (white people are more likely to get scleroderma), genes, and environment.

Scleroderma can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, skin biopsy, X-ray, CAT scan, and blood test. Furthermore, treatment options for scleroderma may include medicines that work on the immune system, like methotrexate and cyclosporine, phototherapy (light therapy), physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

What are the Similarities Between Stiff Person Syndrome and Scleroderma?

Stiff person syndrome and scleroderma are two autoimmune diseases characterized by rigidity in different parts of the body.
They are rare conditions.
Both conditions are more likely to affect women than men.
Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.

What is the Difference Between Stiff Person Syndrome and Scleroderma?

Stiff person syndrome is an autoimmune neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness in the trunk and abdomen, while scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue and rheumatic disease that causes inflammation in the skin and problems in other areas of the body such as muscles, joints, bones, internal organs, and blood vessels. Thus, this is the key difference between stiff person syndrome and scleroderma.

Furthermore, the risk factors for this condition include women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB), people who are in their 30s and 40s, and people who suffer from other autoimmune conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid disease, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, and celiac disease. On the other hand, the risk factors for scleroderma include gender (women are more likely than men to get scleroderma), age (one type tends to develop before 18 years of age while the other types are most likely to begin between the ages of 30 and 50), race, genes, and environment.

The infographic below presents the differences between stiff person syndrome and scleroderma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Stiff Person Syndrome vs. Scleroderma

Autoimmune diseases normally affect a wide range of body parts. In these conditions, the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake. Stiff person syndrome and scleroderma are two autoimmune diseases characterized by the rigidity of the different parts of the body. However, stiff person syndrome is a rare condition that triggers muscle stiffness and painful muscle spasms in areas such as the trunk, abdomen, and legs, while scleroderma is a rare condition that triggers the hardening and tightening of the skin and other problems in the blood vessels, internal organs, and digestive tract. So this is the key difference between stiff person syndrome and scleroderma.

Reference:

1. “Scleroderma: Signs and Symptoms.” American Academy of Dermatology.
2. “Stiff-Person Syndrome.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.