What is Dupuytren Disease
Dupuytren disease (du-pwe-TRANZ) is a gradual thickening and tightening of connective (fascia) tissue under the skin in the hand to become scar-like. Over a period of time dupuytren disease can cause one or more fingers to contract or stay bent toward the palm. Dupuytren disease most often affects the ring and pinky fingers and cause everyday activities like washing your face become complicated. Gripping is less affected as it mostly affects the pinky and ring fingers. Dupuytren contracture can be chronic and last for years or life long and usually self diagnosable.
Early Signs of Dupuytren’s Disease
First, the skin on the palm of the hand starts to thicken. The skin might appear puckered as knots (nodules) of hard tissue begin to form on your palm. These nodules might feel tender to the touch, but they’re usually not painful. The thickening of the skin usually happens very slowly. You don’t need treatment unless your symptoms bother you.
Dupuytren disease is a systemic disorder which most visibly affects the hands. Currently, there are treatments for hand deformities caused by Dupuytren disease (“Dupuytren contracture”), but no treatment for the underlying process of Dupuytren disease. The goal of the Dupuytren Research Group is to develop a medical treatment of Dupuytren disease.
