Physical injury as a provoking factor in three patients with scleroderma

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2000 Sep-Oct;18(5):622-4.

Abstract

A 51-year-old female developed linear-like scleroderma in the left thigh following a linear wound caused by a car accident. 27 years later she also developed a typical diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis with extensive skin involvement and bibasilar pulmonary fibrosis. The second case is a 39-year-old female who had a history of Raynaud's phenomenon since early childhood. She developed a morphea following a burning injury of the left thigh. 17 years later she also developed a typical limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis with sclerodactyly, skin ulcers and subcutaneous calcinosis. The third case is a 43-year-old female who developed a typical morphea of the right elbow around the site of a previous local corticosteroid injection. The two remarkable points of these 3 cases are the possible role of physical injury in the provocation of localized scleroderma and in the first 2 cases the unusual later development of a systemic form of scleroderma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Burns / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Scleroderma, Localized / etiology*
  • Scleroderma, Localized / pathology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / etiology*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / pathology
  • Thigh / injuries
  • Wounds and Injuries / complications*