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Papara C, De Luca DA, Bieber K, Vorobyev A, Ludwig RJ. Morphea: The 2023 update. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1108623. [PMID: 36860340 PMCID: PMC9969991 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1108623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a chronic inflammatory connective tissue disorder with variable clinical presentations, that affects both adults and children. It is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the skin and underlying soft tissue, in certain cases even of the surrounding structures such as fascia, muscle, bone and central nervous system. While the etiology is still unknown, many factors may contribute to disease development, including genetic predisposition, vascular dysregulation, TH1/TH2 imbalance with chemokines and cytokines associated with interferon-γ and profibrotic pathways as well as certain environmental factors. Since the disease may progress to permanent cosmetic and functional sequelae, it is crucial to properly assess the disease activity and to initiate promptly the adequate treatment, thus preventing subsequent damage. The mainstay of treatment is based on corticosteroids and methotrexate. These, however, are limited by their toxicity, especially if applied long-term. Furthermore, corticosteroids and methotrexate often do not sufficiently control the disease and/or the frequent relapses of morphea. This review presents the current understanding of morphea by discussing its epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prognosis. In addition, it will describe recent pathogenetic findings, thus proposing potential novel targets for therapeutic development in morphea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Papara
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,*Correspondence: Cristian Papara, ✉
| | - David A. De Luca
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Katja Bieber
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Artem Vorobyev
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ralf J. Ludwig
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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2
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LaChance AH, Goldman N, Kassamali B, Vleugels RA. Immunologic underpinnings and treatment of morphea. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2022; 18:461-483. [DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2022.2063841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Avery H. LaChance
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nathaniel Goldman
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- New York Medical College School of Medicine, Valhalla, NY
| | - Bina Kassamali
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ruth Ann Vleugels
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Ventéjou S, Schwieger-Briel A, Nicolai R, Christen-Zaech S, Schnider C, Hofer M, Bogiatzi S, Hohl D, De Benedetti F, Morren MA. Case Report: Pansclerotic Morphea-Clinical Features, Differential Diagnoses and Modern Treatment Concepts. Front Immunol 2021; 12:656407. [PMID: 33767715 PMCID: PMC7985437 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.656407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pansclerotic morphea (PSM) is a rare skin disease characterized by progressive stiffening of the skin with or without the typical superficial skin changes usually seen in morphea (localized scleroderma). Standard therapy, consisting of a combination of systemic glucocorticoids and methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil, does rarely stop disease progression, which may lead to severe cutaneous sclerosis and secondary contractures. Little is known about the efficacy of newer biologicals such as abatacept, a fusion protein antibody against CTLA-4, or tocilizumab, a fully humanized IL-6R antibody, in the treatment of this pathology. We present the case of an 8 years old girl with an unusual, progressive stiffening of the skin, which was eventually diagnosed as pansclerotic morphea. A treatment with systemic glucocorticoids and methotrexate combined with tocilizumab led to a good clinical response within 2 months after initiation. In this paper, we discuss differential diagnoses to be considered and this new promising treatment option based on a case review of the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ventéjou
- Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Agnes Schwieger-Briel
- Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Skin Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Nicolai
- Division of Rheumatology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattera Scientifico, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Stephanie Christen-Zaech
- Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Schnider
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hofer
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Bogiatzi
- Laboratory of Dermato-Histopathology, Department of Dermato-Venereology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Hohl
- Laboratory of Dermato-Histopathology, Department of Dermato-Venereology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio De Benedetti
- Division of Rheumatology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattera Scientifico, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Marie-Anne Morren
- Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Hu CX, Cui Y, Liu H, Han XM, Jiang SQ, Zhao L, Wang WQ. Erythema in local and trunk skin caused by intramuscular injection of vitamin K1: A case report and literature review. EUR J INFLAMM 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/20587392211066423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A 52-year-old woman presented with erythema, papules, pain, and itching on the buttocks and trunk that had persisted for 1 week. Twenty-two days before admission, the patient received three intramuscular injections of vitamin K1 in the gluteal muscles. Two weeks after the last intramuscular injection edematous hard erythema developed bilaterally on the gluteal muscles, accompanied by itching, pain, and a burning sensation. Afterward, the erythema and papules gradually spread to the trunk, with notable itching. Dermatological examination revealed a large area of well-defined edematous hard erythema, and blisters around the injection sites on both hips. The skin temperature was high, with mild tenderness. Dense distributions of edematous erythema and papules were observed on the trunk, some of which were fused into pieces. The patient received a diagnosis of a skin reaction induced by intramuscular injections of vitamin K1. Therefore, she was administered glycyrrhizin, calcium, vitamin C, antihistamines, topical polysulfonic mucopolysaccharide cream, and glucocorticoid cream, and the lesions subsided after 2 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Xia Hu
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yu Cui
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiao-Mei Han
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shao-Qian Jiang
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lu Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Wen-Qing Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and Hebei Tumor Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
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Interleukin-6 and Related Proteins as Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis. JOURNAL OF SCLERODERMA AND RELATED DISORDERS 2017. [DOI: 10.5301/jsrd.5000266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The search for biomarkers in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is driven by a goal to stratify patients, identify potential subgroups for treatment, and help assess response to therapy. Emerging evidence indicates that interleukin-6 (IL-6) and some family members are key biomarkers involved in SSc pathogenesis and therefore suitable targets for therapy. Recent studies evaluating IL-6 and its canonical Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription downstream pathways in modulating fibrotic response and immune cell function suggest a pivotal role for IL-6 in SSc pathogenesis. Although the significance and effect of local tissue expression of IL-6 and its family members are less well established, high levels of circulating IL-6 may identify subgroups of patients with early-stage disease, particularly those at risk for progressive lung fibrosis. In addition, higher disease activity may portend poor prognostic outcome in terms of survival and skin disease. Longitudinal assessment of serum levels of IL-6 and its signaling associates may prove valuable in monitoring response to treatment. As an IL-6–dependent surrogate marker, C-reactive protein may assist cohort enrichment if targeted treatment for IL-6 demonstrates efficacy, especially in subgroups with high IL-6 levels. Although IL-6 appears to be a key factor in the hierarchy of the complex network of disease-associated molecules, the systemic or autocrine/paracrine manner in which IL-6 asserts its profibrotic effects—particularly its interaction with other key pathogenic factors in SSc—is unknown. Ongoing clinical trials will help to delineate the mechanisms of IL-6 in SSc pathogenesis and inform on the role of these biomarkers.
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Morphea - selected local treatment methods and their effectiveness. Reumatologia 2017; 55:305-313. [PMID: 29491539 PMCID: PMC5825969 DOI: 10.5114/reum.2017.72628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Localised scleroderma is an uncommon connective tissue disease of multifactorial aetiology occurring in the paediatric and adult population. It is relatively difficult to conduct any research on the subject of this disease entity treatment due to the low number of patients suffering from morphea, a tendency of the disease to remit spontaneously, and not yet well recognised aetiology. Hence, there has been developed no causal treatment of well-proven effectiveness, and schedules of symptomatic therapy are not yet clearly determined. The paper depicts most widely used topical treatment methods in morphea therapy, which due to minor risk of systemic adverse effects seem to be a beneficial therapeutic alternative. The main aim of this article was to analyse different topical treatment options used in localised scleroderma therapy and to indicate the most appropriate, safe, and effective one.
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