Risk factors for sclerema neonatorum in preterm neonates in Bangladesh

Sclerema neonatorum in a premature newborn: A case report

Sclerema neonatorum (SN) is a rare condition of neonatal panniculitis with a poor prognosis and a high fatality rate. It clinically presents as hardening of the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue extending throughout the body, sparing the fat-free soles, palms, and genitalia. SN typically affects gravely ill, preterm neonates in the first week of life and diagnosis is often clinical. We report a case of an eight-day-old premature infant diagnosed with early-onset neonatal sepsis who presented with clinical and histopathological features of SN. Despite early treatment of the sepsis with intravenous antibiotics and the SN with a topical corticosteroid cream and moisturiser, the infant died on the twelfth day of life.

Sclerema Neonatorum in a Term Infant: A Case Report and Literature Review

Sclerema neonatorum (SN) is a rare form of panniculitides with an obscure incidence, aetiology, and pathogenesis. This condition is peculiar to preterm neonates, especially those with comorbidities such as sepsis, congenital anomalies, congenital heart disease, and gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. Usually, it presents within the first seven days of life, but may develop a few weeks later. Typically, SN manifests with diffuse hardening of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that subsequently bind to the underlying muscle and bone, often beginning in the buttocks, thighs, or trunk, and progressing to other body parts, but sparing the soles, palms, and genitalia. Diagnosis is based on clinical characteristics. It has been associated with a high mortality, despite aggressive use of various treatment modalities such as antibiotics, steroids, fresh blood transfusion, exchange blood transfusion, and intravenous immunoglobins. This is a report of a macrosomic term neonate who presented with typical clinical and histopathological features of SN.

Sclerema Neonatorum in a Full-Term Infant Showing Favorable Prognosis

Sclerema neonatorum (SN) is a rare disease characterized by firm, indurated, waxy skin lesions extending throughout the body, sparing the fat-free soles, palms, and genitalia. The prognosis of SN is generally very poor, with a high fatality rate. We report the case of a full-term infant with delayed onset of SN showing good prognosis. A 4-month-old Korean male infant presented with diffuse waxy, sclerotic skin lesions on the whole body, sparing the face, nipples, and genital area, which began developing at 2 months of age. Histopathologic findings of the sclerotic skin lesions showed wide, fibrous intersecting bands in the subcutaneous fat tissue. Only sparse infiltration of lymphocytes and histiocytes was observed in the fat lobules and septa. Based on clinical presentation and histopathologic findings, he was diagnosed with SN. The patient survived with conservative care and had mild improvement of the skin lesions on his follow-up visit at 12 months of age.