upi.com | Submitted by skepticalcynic, 01.28.10
Because of an unusual cluster of residents in an area of Boston who developed scleroderma (a rare autoimmune disease in which a person’s muscles and organs gradually harden), the state department of public health launched a study to attempt to determine if something in the environment could be causing the disease. After evaluating 41 individuals, the researchers were not able to link the cases of scleroderma with any environmental exposures. However, they did find that those who had a family history of autoimmune or rheumatology disorders (the article cites rheumatoid arthritis and lupus as examples) were more likely to develop scleroderma. This finding suggests that there is a genetic influence on the development of scleroderma, although further research would be required to learn more specific information.