Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) Treatment in China

Condition Guide

About Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)

Understand the condition, common triggers and treatment options that may require specialist assessment.

Disease Introduction

Scleroderma, medically known as systemic sclerosis, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the skin and internal organs, causing the skin to gradually thicken, harden, and tighten. It can also affect the lungs, heart, digestive tract, and blood vessels. Early symptoms often include Raynaud's phenomenon, where the fingers turn white or purple when exposed to cold. With proper treatment, fibrosis can be slowed and vital organs can be protected.

Cutting-edge high-precision diagnostic and treatment technologies

Nintedanib anti-fibrotic : Nintedanib is the first drug approved by the FDA for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). The SENSCIS randomized controlled trial has confirmed that it can slow the rate of decline in lung function in patients.
Tocilizumab Biologics : The IL-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab has been approved by the FDA for SSc-ILD based on clinical studies, providing a new biologic option for patients with immunosuppressant intolerance or progressive lung disease.
Targeted drugs for pulmonary hypertension : For scleroderma-associated pulmonary hypertension, endothelin receptor antagonists (bosentan, macitentan) and PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil) are selected according to WHO functional classification, and combination therapy is used when necessary.
Autologous stem cell transplantation : Multiple randomized controlled trials, including ASTIS, have confirmed that autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is superior to conventional cyclophosphamide in early, rapidly progressing severe diffuse scleroderma and can improve long-term survival.
The 2026 Guideline Update : The Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis (2026 Edition) emphasizes early screening for ILD and pulmonary hypertension, stratified selection of immunosuppressive, antifibrotic, and targeted drugs, and the pursuit of achieving dual targets for scleroderma and pulmonary hypertension.

Care Overview

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) Treatment in China

The medical team will develop a personalized protocol based on the pathology type, stage, genetic test, previous treatment history, and the patient's physical condition.

1. Tiered management of lung disease : Mycophenolate mofetil as the first-line treatment, cyclophosphamide intravenous pulse therapy to control progressive interstitial lung disease, followed by sequential maintenance therapy after remission, and nintedanib for anti-fibrosis when necessary.
2. Intervention for Raynaud's ulcers : For Raynaud's phenomenon, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (such as nifedipine and amlodipine) are the first choice to dilate blood vessels; bosentan is used to prevent new fingertip ulcers and improve ischemia.
3. Renal crisis monitoring : Routinely monitor blood pressure and renal function, be alert to scleroderma renal crisis, and intervene promptly once identified to avoid malignant hypertension and acute kidney injury.
4. Multidisciplinary management : Led by the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, in conjunction with the Departments of Respiratory, Cardiology, Dermatology and Gastroenterology, the affected organs such as the lungs, heart and digestive tract are followed up and stratified for treatment throughout the course of treatment.

Network of partner hospitals

Recommended Hospitals

Selected leading medical centers with strong specialties and international patient services.

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Beijing · Partner Hospital

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

RehabilitationOrgan TransplantRare & Complex DiseasesOncologyGastroenterologyNeurologyUrologyInternal MedicineSurgeryHepatobiliaryOrthopedicsObstetrics & GynecologyENTCosmetic Surgery

In the ranking of Chinese hospitals released by the Fudan University Hospital Management Institute, Peking Union Medical College Hospital has topped the comprehensive ranking for more than ten consecutive years, and has twice ranked first in the national performance evaluation of tertiary public hospitals. Among the 42 specialties covered in the comprehensive specialty ranking, 28 of Peking Union Medical College Hospital's specialties are ranked in the top 10. Nine specialties, including pathology, rheumatology, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, neurology, nuclear medicine, emergency medicine, critical care medicine, and allergy, rank first in the country; several specialties, including radiology, anesthesiology, endocrinology, laboratory medicine, ultrasound medicine, and gastroenterology, rank second in the country. The hospital is a national center for the diagnosis and treatment of complex, critical, and rare diseases designated by the National Health Commission, a national demonstration base for higher medical education and standardized residency training, and a national core base for clinical medical research and technological innovation.

Year Founded: 1921
Beds: 3000

Beijing · Partner Hospital

China-Japan Friendship Hospital

RehabilitationOrgan TransplantRare & Complex DiseasesInternal Medicine

China-Japan Friendship Hospital is a national center for respiratory medicine, a national center for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, a national center for telemedicine and internet medicine, a national clinical research center for respiratory diseases, a national telemedicine and training center, and the supporting unit of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Prevention of Respiratory Diseases. The hospital is a national pilot hospital for high-quality development and a national pilot hospital for clinical research. It boasts 2 National Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 3 National Renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners, 5 Qihuang Scholars, and 9 Capital National Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the fields of intractable diseases, critical illnesses, and rare diseases, it ranks 5th nationwide according to the Fudan University rankings.

Year Founded: 1984
Beds: 400

Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

Shanghai · Partner Hospital

Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

RehabilitationOrgan TransplantRare & Complex DiseasesNeurologyInternal MedicineOrthopedicsDermatology

The hospital is responsible for the construction of three national-level medical centers: the National Medical Center for Neurological Diseases, the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, and the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases. It is also the National Quality Control Center for Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (under construction). It boasts 20 national key clinical specialties designated by the Ministry of Health, 10 national key disciplines designated by the Ministry of Education, and 2 national key laboratories. Its national examination scores of A++ rank it among the top tier nationwide, making it one of the most renowned and internationally-oriented medical, educational, and research centers in China.

Year Founded: 1907
Beds: 3142

West China Hospital of Sichuan University

Chengdu · Partner Hospital

West China Hospital of Sichuan University

RehabilitationOrgan TransplantRare & Complex DiseasesOncologyGastroenterologyCardio-CerebrovascularNeurologyUrologyInternal MedicineSurgeryThoracicHepatobiliaryOrthopedics

The hospital is among the first batch of national medical center construction units and a pilot hospital for high-quality development jointly built by the national and provincial governments. It has established a national medical center for mental illness and two national regional medical centers. The hospital has 43 national key clinical specialties, ranking first among hospitals in China; its clinical medicine ESI ranking is in the top 0.252‰ globally. In the Fudan University version of the China Hospital Ranking, the hospital's comprehensive strength has ranked among the top three in China for many consecutive years (ranking second in the country for 11 consecutive years). Its anesthesiology department ranks first in the country, and many other specialties such as radiology, pathology, urology, ultrasound medicine, and geriatrics are among the top in the country. More than 10 specialties in the hospital are ranked among the top three in the country, and nearly 30 specialties are ranked among the top ten in the country.

Year Founded: 1982
Beds: 4900

The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Urumqi · Partner Hospital

The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Rare & Complex Diseases

The hospital is a national Grade III Class A comprehensive hospital and the First Clinical Medical College of Xinjiang Medical University. It consistently ranks first in the Northwest region of the Fudan University China Hospital Rankings. Its departments of echinococcosis surgery, cardiovascular medicine, orthopedics, and respiratory medicine have significant national influence. The hospital is a global leader in the prevention and treatment of echinococcosis (hydatid cancer) and autologous liver transplantation. It is the head unit of the National Echinococcosis Supervision Expert Group, has established Xinjiang's first brain-computer interface ward, and is a core unit in the construction of the National Regional Medical Center.

Year Founded: 1956
Beds: 2970

Leading Specialists

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

Wanping

Associate Chief Physician, Liver Surgery Expert at Renji Hospital.

Rare & Complex Diseases

Research Areas : Pediatric liver transplantation, Kasai procedure for biliary atresia, and complex liver tumor resection, among other pediatric liver surgeries. Cutting-Edge Techniques: Proficient in the surgical treatment of pediatric liver diseases such as biliary atresia, inherited metabolic diseases, cholestasis, and hepatoblastoma, having treated over 1700 cases of various pediatric liver diseases and rare diseases; as a core member of the team, systematically conducting liver transplantation surgery

Affiliated Hospital West China Hospital of Sichuan University

Wu Yu

Chief Physician, Doctoral Supervisor, specializing in rare hematological diseases

Rare & Complex Diseases

Research areas : rare hematological diseases, hereditary hemolytic diseases, systemic amyloidosis - Cutting-edge technologies: Stratified treatment for systemic amyloidosis, molecular diagnostics for complex hematological and rare diseases. - Areas of expertise: Systemic AL amyloidosis, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, hereditary platelet disorders - Academic Highlights: Core expert in multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of amyloidosis in China; Core Value: Establishment of individualized drug a

Affiliated Hospital West China Hospital of Sichuan University

Zhang Shuyang

President of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and concurrently Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Chief Physician, Dr., and Doctoral Supervisor

Rare & Complex Diseases

Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Rare and Complex Diseases; National Health Commission Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Expert, State Council Special Government Allowance Expert, and Changjiang Scholar Dr. appointed by the Ministry of Education. Currently serves as Chairman of the Rare Diseases Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Chairman of the Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Guarantee Committee of the National Health Commission, Director of the National Rare Disease Qualit

Affiliated Hospital Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Shen Min

Doctor of Medicine, Director of the Department of Rare Diseases, Chief Physician of Rheumatology and Immunology, Dr., and Doctoral Supervisor at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Rare & Complex DiseasesInternal Medicine

Visiting Scholar at the University of California, San Francisco, and Visiting Researcher in Rheumatology and Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic. Editorial Board Member of the *Chinese Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy*, *Chinese Journal of General Practitioners*, and *Peking Union Medical College Journal*. Vice Chairman of the Immunodeficiency Monitoring and Translation Professional Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of Human Health Science and Technology; Standing Committee Mem

Affiliated Hospital Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Zhang Guojun

Chief Physician, Dr., and Doctoral Supervisor. Currently serves as Director of the Neurology Center, Epilepsy Center, Rare Disease Center, and Neurological Diseases and Cognitive Research Laboratory at the National Children's Medical Center and Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University.

NeurologyRare & Complex Diseases

Has extensive clinical experience in the surgical treatment of functional neurosurgical diseases, especially refractory epilepsy, and has long been engaged in research on the pathogenesis and intervention strategies of epilepsy and cognitive developmental disorders. Graduated from the Department of Medicine, Hebei Medical University in 1989, and received a Ph.D. in Surgery (Neurosurgery) from Capital Medical University in 2003. Has undertaken more than ten national and provincial-level research projects a

Affiliated Hospital Beijing Children's Hospital (School of Pediatrics, National Children's Medical Center), Capital Medical University

Patient Stories

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Adult Still's Disease : The End of 120 Days of

CASE 01

PATIENT JOURNEY

Adult Still's Disease : The End of 120 Days of "Unexplained High Fever": How a British Pilot Regains His Career in China

Rare & Complex Diseases

Patient records Name: James (pseudonym) Age: 35 Nationality: British Diagnosis: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), characterized by a triad of high fever, rash, and arthritis, accompanied by severe ferritinemia. Treatment Hospital: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine For a pilot, any undiagnosed illness means the end of his career. James' nightmare began with what seemed like a common cold, but turned into a 120-day ord

View case details →

IgG4-related disease (involving the pancreas, submandibular gland, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes) - Two years shrouded in

CASE 02

PATIENT JOURNEY

IgG4-related disease (involving the pancreas, submandibular gland, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes) - Two years shrouded in "tumor": How a Canadian patient overturned a wrong diagnosis in China.

Rare & Complex Diseases

Patient records Name: Margaret (pseudonym) Age: 61 Nationality: Canadian Diagnosis: IgG4-related disease (involving the pancreas, submandibular gland, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes), previously misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer. Treatment Hospital: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital Case Theme: In the world of intractable diseases, the most agonizing part is often not the treatment itself, but the journey further and further down the path of treatment with a

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Service Process

A clear, coordinated process for efficient cross-border care

01
Pre-Visit Services
Contact us for help organising and translating medical records, planning consultations, and finding suitable hospitals and specialists.
02
Remote Consultations
A remote consultation helps establish an initial approach to diagnosis and treatment, with a cost estimate available within 48 hours.
03
Travel Arrangements
We assist with visa applications, book flights and hotel or apartment accommodation, and arrange airport pick-up, private transport and check-in.
04
Comprehensive Support in China
We accompany you to medical appointments and provide interpreting services, help arrange specialist consultations or surgery, assist with hospital admission and discharge, and help settle medical bills.
05
Post-Visit Services
We assist with notarisation of medical expense documents, airport drop-off, organisation and translation of medical records, remote rehabilitation guidance, and coordination of international referrals.

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Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)Treatment in China

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) Treatment in China

Recommended Hospitals

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

China-Japan Friendship Hospital

Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University

West China Hospital of Sichuan University

The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University

Trusted Expertise Across Leading Specialties

Wanping

Wu Yu

Zhang Shuyang

Shen Min

Zhang Guojun

See the Next Step Through Patient Journeys

Adult Still's Disease : The End of 120 Days of "Unexplained High Fever": How a British Pilot Regains His Career in China

IgG4-related disease (involving the pancreas, submandibular gland, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes) - Two years shrouded in "tumor": How a Canadian patient overturned a wrong diagnosis in China.

A clear, coordinated process for efficient cross-border care

Pre-Visit Services

Remote Consultations

Travel Arrangements

Comprehensive Support in China

Post-Visit Services

Get a Care Planand Cost Estimate.

Get a Care Plan and Estimate

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)
Treatment in China

Get a Care Plan
and Cost Estimate.