GILS – Gruppo Italiano per la Lotta alla Sclerodermia

GILS is an association based in Milan, Italy, dedicated to fighting scleroderma.

GILS – Gruppo Italiano per la Lotta alla Sclerodermia is an Italian association based in Milan, Italy. Public information about the organisation describes it as an association dedicated to the fight against scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease. The exact founding date is not provided in the available evidence. The association's mission, as presented on its official website, centres on supporting people with scleroderma and their families, providing information about the disease, and funding research. Its website explains that scleroderma is a rare disease of unknown cause involving simultaneous abnormalities of the immune system and alterations of the vascular district, leading to progressive fibrosis. It describes symptoms that may be vascular (such as Raynaud's phenomenon, the most frequent symptom, in which hands are sensitive to cold and turn white) or that involve organ tissues from skin to lungs, reducing their normal elasticity and function. It also explains that diagnosis begins with recognition of Raynaud's phenomenon as the key indicator for early scleroderma, followed by periungual capillaroscopy and/or testing for specific autoantibodies to reach a definitive diagnosis. A stated priority of GILS is to offer services that help address the serious needs posed by systemic sclerosis, with the goal of raising quality of life. Services listed on the website include listening centres, telephone medical assistance, psychological assistance, and physiotherapy and relaxation courses. The association also engages in fundraising and membership activities, inviting the public to donate, become members, or support through the 5×1000 mechanism. The website publishes news and events, including ReumaDay 2026 in Turin, described as a day of information and orientation on rheumatic diseases, and relaxation courses beginning in October 2026. As a non-profit patient association, GILS operates in the Italian health-support and advocacy sector rather than as a commercial enterprise.

• ReumaDay 2026 held in Turin, a day of information and orientation on rheumatic diseases

• New GILS relaxation course starting October 2026

Italian non-profit patient association focused on scleroderma support, information and research funding.

• Listening centres (centri d'ascolto)

  Support services for patients and families

• Telephone medical assistance

  Medical advice by phone

• Psychological support

  Psychological assistance for patients

• Physiotherapy and relaxation courses

  Courses to improve quality of life

1. 1GILS – Gruppo Italiano per la Lotta alla Sclerodermia - GILSsclerodermia.net
2. 2GILS - Gruppo Italiano Per La Lotta Alla Sclerodermiawikidata.org