Localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis: is there a connection?

Remission rates and risk factors for relapse in pediatric morphea: a multicenter retrospective study of Pediatric Rheumatology Academy (PeRA)-Research Group (RG)

AIM

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is an immune-mediated disease and the most common form of scleroderma in children. It is a localized sclerosing disease of the skin, but can also involve such adjacent tissues as the fascia, muscle, bone, and underlying tissues. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate Turkish pediatric morphea patients, regarding demographics, treatments, and response to treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was performed by the Pediatric Rheumatology Academy and included pediatric morphea patients from 6 Turkish pediatric rheumatology centers who were followed up for ≥6 months. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and treatment modalities were analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to treatment response, as follows: group 1: topical treatment response, group 2: methotrexate response, and group 3: methotrexate resistance. Clinical findings were compared between the 3 groups.

RESULTS

The study included 76 patients, of which 53 (69.7%) were female. Mean age at diagnosis of morphea was 9.7 ± 4.3 years and mean duration of follow-up was 3.2 ± 2.9 years. Linear morphea was the most common form, accounting for 43.4% (n = 33) of the patients. Extracutaneous features were noted in 17 patients (22.4%) and anti-nuclear antibody positivity was noted in 32 (42.1%). In all, 14.4% of the patients received topical treatment only, whereas 86.6% received both topical and systemic treatment. The methotrexate response rate was 76.9% in the patients that received systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The overall relapse rate while under treatment was 19.7%.

CONCLUSION

In this study, most of the pediatric morphea patients responded well to methotrexate. Bilateral lesions were more common in the methotrexate-resistant group. Multiple involvement, and bilateral lesions, were more common in relapsed patients than in non-relapsed patients. Key points • Most of the pediatric morphea patients respond well to MTX. • Multiple involvement, and bilateral involvement, were more common in relapsed patients than in non-relapsed patients. • Presence of extracutaneous findings in patients increased relapse rate 5.7 times.

Diagnosing and Managing Linear Scleroderma in a Low-Resource Setting

Background

Linear scleroderma is one of the five forms of scleroderma, but it is the most common form of localized scleroderma in childhood. If left untreated, it can lead to severe disfigurement and functional impairment. The typical appearance is a linear streak with cutaneous induration on the face or head in association with various ophthalmological and neurological signs and symptoms. Treatment typically includes corticosteroids and/or methotrexate with life-long monitoring for recurrence. Case Presentation. A 12-year-old girl presented to our clinic in northern rural Cambodia with a history of a linear streak on her forehead that was growing down her nasal bridge. She denied any tenderness or family history of rheumatic disease. Her history was significant for strabismus as a child. A visiting pediatric rheumatologist assisted us with the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Conclusion

In our case report, we present a child with linear scleroderma who fortunately came to medical attention early and received appropriate treatment before the onset of complications. She was treated with systemic immunosuppression as well as topical steroids. After treatment, she had no further progression on her face and continued to follow up with us to monitor for disease activity. To summarize, linear scleroderma is an uncommon diagnosis for general pediatricians and should be recognized early to provide appropriate treatment and follow-up.

Controversy around the morphea

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a chronic, autoimmune disease of connective tissue. It is characterized by a typical clinical feature. In morphea, there is no Raynaud’s phenomenon, no sclerodactyly or no ulcerations on the fingertips. Although morphea and systemic sclerosis have been perceived as separate disease entities for years, they are still confused both by patients (which is a source of unnecessary stress) and doctors. This may be due to, in part, misunderstood terminology. The controversy around morphea also concerns the division of this disease entity, including its less common subtypes, such as eosinophilic fasciitis. Discussions also revolve around the diagnostic aspects and possible treatment options. The paper attempts to present the debatable aspects regarding nomenclature, classification, diagnosis and treatment of morphea.

The efficacy of early immunosuppression in a morphea patient complicated with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis

Currently seldom cases have been reported that generalized morphea could accompany with organ dysfunction. However, our study reveals not only morphea could complicate with intranet organ involvements but it may also be the early phase of systemic sclerosis. Furthermore, our therapy challenged the traditional morphea treatment to prove that cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoid are efficient to treat morphea with organ dysfunction.

Radiological findings in gastrointestinal scleroderma

Gastrointestinal involvement is the most common visceral organ manifestation in systemic sclerosis. Symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract are very frequent among scleroderma patients and in many cases present a therapeutic challenge. However, gastrointestinal involvement may also be asymptomatic, presenting with complications later in the disease course. Early recognition of gastrointestinal scleroderma is therefore important both for symptomatic control and prevention of complications. Gastrointestinal imaging alongside clinical assessment forms the mainstay of diagnosis. Radiological investigations, traditionally plain radiographs and barium studies, with the more recent advances in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, provide means for accurate evaluation of visceral organ involvement and more effective patient care. Awareness of the characteristic images is important not only for radiologists but also for the treating physicians and gastroenterologists.

Ultrasonographic Findings of Scleredema Adultorum of Buschke Involving the Posterior Neck

Objective

To describe the clinical and ultrasonographic (US) findings in patients with scleredema adultorum of Buschke, who presented with sclerotic skin on their posterior neck.

Materials and Methods

After obtaining IRB approval, eight patients with scleredema adultorum of Buschke were enrolled. They underwent US examination of their posterior neck. The diagnoses were confirmed pathologically. The clinical history and US images were evaluated retrospectively. Dermal thickness was compared between the patient group and the age- and sex-matched control group.

Results

The patients included seven males and one female with a mean age of 51.5 years. All patients presented with thickening of the skin and/or a palpable mass on the posterior neck. Five (62.5%) of the eight patients showed erythematous discoloration. Six patients (75.0%) had a history of diabetes. The Hemoglobin A1c level was found to be increased in all patients. US images did not show any evidence of a soft tissue mass or infection. The mean dermal thickness in patients (7.01 ± 1.95 mm) was significantly greater than that in the control group (3.08 ± 0.87 mm) (p = 0.001). Multiple strong echogenic spots in the dermis were seen in all patients. Seven patients (87.5%) showed posterior shadowing in the lower dermis.

Conclusion

When a patient with a history of diabetes presents with a palpable mass or erythematous discoloration of the posterior neck and US shows the following imaging features: 1) no evidence of a soft tissue mass or infection, 2) thickening of the dermis, 3) multiple strong echogenic spots and/or posterior shadowing in the dermis, scleredema adultorum of Buschke should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

IL-22 capacitates dermal fibroblast responses to TNF in scleroderma

OBJECTIVES

Interleukin (IL) 22 mRNA in systemic sclerosis (SSc) skin and Th22 cells in SSc peripheral blood are increased, but the role of IL-22 in fibrosis development remains poorly understood.

METHODS

Biopsies were obtained from the involved skin of 15 SSc, 4 morphea and 8 healthy donors (HD). The presence of IL-22+ cells in the skin was determined by immunostaining. The in vitro response of HD and SSc fibroblasts to IL-22, IL-22 in conjunction with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or keratinocyte conditioned medium was assessed by ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA), real-time PCR and western blot. The in vivo response in mice was assessed by histomorphometry.

RESULTS

IL-22+ cells were over-represented in the dermis and epidermis of morphea and in the epidermis of SSc compared with HD. The majority of dermal IL-22+ cells were T cells. Dermal fibroblasts expressed both IL-22 receptor subunits IL-10RB and IL-22RA, expression of which was enhanced by TNF and reduced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. IL-22 induced rapid phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 in fibroblasts, but failed to induce the synthesis of chemokines and extracellular matrix components. However, IL-22 enhanced the production of monocyte chemotactic protein 1, IL-8 and matrix metalloproteinase 1 induced by TNF. Fibroblast responses were maximal in the presence of conditioned medium from keratinocytes activated by IL-22 in conjunction with TNF. Dermal thickness was maximal in mice injected simultaneously with IL-22 and TNF.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-22 capacitates fibroblast responses to TNF and promotes a proinflammatory fibroblast phenotype by favouring TNF-induced keratinocyte activation. These results define a novel role for keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions in the context of skin fibrosis.

Orofacial Manifestations and Temporomandibular Disorders of Systemic Scleroderma: An Observational Study

Scleroderma is a disorder involving oral and facial tissues, with skin hardening, thin lips, deep wrinkles, xerostomia, tongue rigidity, and microstomia. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral manifestations and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients compared with healthy people. Eighty patients (6 men, 74 women) fulfilling ACR/EULAR SSc Criteria were enrolled. A randomly selected group of 80 patients, matched by sex and age served as control group. The examination for TMD signs and symptoms was based on the standardized Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) through a questionnaire and clinical examination. SSc patients complained more frequently (78.8%) of oral symptoms (Xerostomia, dysgeusia, dysphagia and stomatodynia) than controls (28.7%) (χ² = 40.23 p = 0.001). TMD symptoms (muscle pain on chewing, difficulty in mouth opening, headaches) were complained by 92.5% of SSc patients and by 76.2% of controls (χ² = 8.012 p = 0.005). At the clinical examination, 85% of SSc patients showed restricted opening versus 20.0% of controls (χ² = 67.77 p = 0.001), 81.2% of SSc showed reduced right lateral excursion versus 50% of controls (χ² = 17.316 p = 0.001); 73.8% of SSc showed limited left lateral excursion versus 53.8% of controls (χ² = 6.924 p = 0.009); and 73.8% of SSc had narrow protrusion versus 56.2% of controls (χ² = 5.385 p = 0.02).

Clinical and laboratory features of systemic sclerosis complicated with localized scleroderma

Localized scleroderma (LSc) primarily affects skin, whereas systemic sclerosis (SSc) affects skin and various internal organs. LSc and SSc are considered to be basically different diseases, and there is no transition between them. However, LSc and SSc have several common characteristics, including endothelial cell dysfunction, immune activation, and excess fibrosis of the skin, and there exist several SSc cases complicated with LSc during the course of SSc. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of SSc patients with LSc remain unclear. We investigated the clinical and laboratory features of 8 SSc patients with LSc among 220 SSc patients (3.6%). The types of LSc included plaque (5/8), guttate (2/8), and linear type (1/8). All cases were diagnosed as having SSc within 5 years before or after the appearance of LSc. In three cases of SSc with LSc (37.5%), LSc skin lesions preceded clinical symptoms of SSc. Young age, negative antinuclear antibody, and positive anti-RNA polymerase III antibody were significantly prevalent in SSc patients with LSc. The positivity of anticentromere antibody tended to be prevalent in SSc patients without LSc. No significant difference in the frequency of complications, such as interstitial lung disease, reflux esophagitis, and pulmonary artery hypertension, was observed. The awareness of these characteristic of SSc with LSc are essential to establish an early diagnosis and treatment.

Sacroiliac joint involvement in systemic sclerosis

AIM

One of the major problems for systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients is suggested to be articular involvement. Mostly involved joints in SSc were reported as wrist, carpometacarpal-interphalangeal, foot, knee, hip and shoulder; however, there has been little knowledge on the sacroiliac joint. Our aim was to evaluate sacroiliac joint involvement in SSc.

METHODS

Fifty-seven SSc patients, 54 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 64 healthy subjects were included. Anteroposterior pelvic radiographs were obtained and graded twice by three blinded rheumatologists. One competent radiologist has re-evaluated the X-ray results. The ASAS (Assessment of Spondylo Arthritis International Society) scoring method was applied for grading sacroiliac involvement. Inflammatory back pain was also evaluated. Other clinical and laboratory data were collected as proposed by the European Study Group.

RESULTS

In the SSc group sacroiliitis was found in 13 patients (23%) and was significantly different from RA patients (two patients, 4%), P = 0.003; and the healthy control group (one participant, 2%), P < 0.001. The frequency of inflammatory back pain in SSc patients with sacroiliitis (8/13 patients, 62%) was significantly higher in SSc patients without sacroiliitis (4/44 patients, 9%), P < 0.001. The SSc patients with sacroiliitis and with inflammatory back pain (8/57 patients, 14%) were regarded as axial spondyloarthritis overlap. Male gender, diffuse subtype, inflammatory back pain and high C-reactive protein levels (odds ratio: 1.069, 1.059, 1.059 and 3.698, respectively) were found to be the significant risk factors for sacroiliitis.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that, sacroiliitis may be a concern to be considered in SSc practice.

Quality of Life and Optimism in Patients with Morphea

Despite extensive knowledge about quality of life of people suffering from dermatological diseases, data on patients with morphea are scarce. The aim of our study was to compare the quality of life of healthy controls and morphea patients, as well as to determine the correlation of this variable with the level of dispositional optimism. The study included 47 patients with morphea and 47 healthy controls, matched for gender and age. Cantril's Ladder and Life Orientation Test-Revised were used to assess the levels of life satisfaction and dispositional optimism, respectively. LoSSI was used for the objective assessment. The anticipated level of life quality and the level of dispositional optimism were statistically significantly lower in morphea patients (p = 0.032 and p = 0.014, respectively) when compared to controls. There were no differences in the assessment of current (p = 0.168) and past (p = 0.318) levels of life quality. Also, we proved that type of morphea did not differentiate the current (p = 0.175), past (p = 0.620) and future (p = 0.356) assessment of the quality of life. In the group of morphea patients there was a statistically significant correlation between the level of dispositional optimism and current (p = 0.002, r = 0.43), as well as anticipated (p < 0.001, r = 0.57) levels of life quality. Current level of life quality of healthy controls and morphea patients is comparable, whereas the latter anticipate their future life situation to be significantly worse than the former. Higher level of life satisfaction correlates with higher level of optimism.

Treatment of localized scleroderma with hyaluronidase

Goal. To evaluate the efficacy of treatment of patients suffering from localized scleroderma with Longidaza. Materials and methods. The study sample included 300 patients with localized scleroderma (158 with the plaque form and 142 with white spot disease) treated with Longidaza in 2002—2010. Results. Complex therapy of patients suffering from localized scleroderma with Longidaza proved to be efficient in 71.3% of the patients. Conclusion. These results confirm that inclusion of the Russian enzymatic drug Longidaza into the complex treatment of patients suffering from the aforesaid pathology seems to be expedient.

Interleukin-13-producing CD8+ T cells mediate dermal fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

Fibrosis is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). T cells are the predominant inflammatory infiltrate in affected tissue and are thought to produce cytokines that drive the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins by fibroblasts, resulting in excessive fibrosis. We have previously shown that aberrant interleukin-13 (IL-13) production by peripheral blood effector CD8+ T cells from SSc patients correlates with the extent of skin fibrosis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of IL-13 production by CD8+ T cells in dermal fibrosis, an early and specific manifestation of SSc.

METHODS

ECM protein production by normal dermal fibroblasts cocultured with SSc CD8+ T cell supernatants was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Skin-homing receptor expression and IL-13 production by CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of SSc patients were measured by flow cytometry. IL-13+ and CD8+ cells in sclerotic skin were identified by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

IL-13-producing circulating CD8+ T cells from patients with SSc expressed skin-homing receptors and induced a profibrotic phenotype in normal dermal fibroblasts, which was inhibited by an anti-IL-13 antibody. High numbers of CD8+ T cells and IL-13+ cells were found in the skin lesions of SSc patients, particularly during the early inflammatory phase of the disease.

CONCLUSION

These findings show that IL-13-producing CD8+ T cells are directly involved in modulating dermal fibrosis in SSc. The demonstration that CD8+ T cells homing to the skin early in the course of SSc are associated with accumulation of IL-13 is an important mechanistic contribution to the understanding of the pathogenesis of dermal fibrosis in SSc and may represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Pediatric morphea

This article outlines the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood morphea. Also known as localized scleroderma, morphea is a fibrosing disorder of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Morphea is differentiated from systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) based on the absence of sclerodactyly, Raynaud phenomenon, and nail-fold capillary changes. Confusion may occur because patients with morphea often have systemic symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, arthralgias, myalgias, and positive autoantibodies. Unlike morphea, systemic sclerosis has organ involvement, particularly gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and renal.

Cutaneous Connective Tissue Diseases: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a group of clinical disorders that have an underlying autoimmune pathogenesis. These include a diverse set of diseases such as relapsing polychondritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and eosinophilic fasciitis, along with more common entities like Sjogren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and lupus erythematosus. The latter three will be the focus of this review, as they constitute the most significant and common CTD with cutaneous manifestations. The cutaneous signs often represent the preliminary stages of disease and the presenting clinical symptoms. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of CTD manifestations is essential for accurate diagnosis, better assessment of prognosis, and effective management. Although the precise etiologies of CTDs remain obscure, recent advances have allowed for further understanding of their pathogenesis and improved disease classifications. In addition, there have been developments in therapeutic options for CTDs. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, clinical presentations, and current treatment options of cutaneous lupus erythematous, dermatomyositis and scleroderma.