What is CREST syndrome

CREST syndrome is an acronym for calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia. It is a variant of the two groups of scleroderma, localized and systemic. CREST is a relatively stable and slow-moving form of scleroderma and has a much more favorable prognosis than other forms. There is no evidence that the basic process differs from the usual scleroderma, but the tempo of CREST seems to be different in that organ involvement comes slower and later in the course of the disease.