Scleromyxoedema with features of systemic sclerosis

Escleromixedema associado a miocardiopatia

Relato de um caso de escleromixedema com lesões cutâneas associadas a miopatia, disfunção esofageana e paraproteinemia. Durante a evolução, a paciente apresentou sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC) que foram relacionados à miocardiopatia, passível de ocorrer em até 10% dos portadores de escleromixedema. São discutidos os aspectos clínicos, etiológicos e terapêuticos.

Scleromyxedema

Scleromyxedema is a sclerotic variant of papular mucinosis, in which lichenoid papules and scleroderma-like features are present. We describe a patient with scleromyxedema with IgG type lambda chain paraprotein, a systemic sclerosis-like illness, and myositis. The patient's serum contained Scl 70 antibodies, characteristic of scleroderma. Electromyography showed signs of acute myositis and the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level was elevated. Multiply passaged fibroblasts from the patient's skin lesions showed altered growth response in vitro. The patient was treated with cyclosporin (4 mg/kg/day) with improvement.

Ophthalmic findings in scleromyxedema

PURPOSE

To catalog ophthalmic findings in a cohort of patients with scleromyxedema.

METHODS

Thirty-five biopsy-proven patients with scleromyxedema evaluated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, from 1960 to 1991 were identified. Eye examinations were performed on 17 of the patients. Ophthalmic findings not attributable to other systemic or ocular disease were recorded.

RESULTS

The following abnormalities were considered secondary to scleromyxedema: corneal opacities (2 patients), thickened eyebrow or eyelid skin (4 patients), lagophthalmos (1 patient), and ectropion (2 patients). One patient who had concurrent polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome also had choroidal folds and papilledema. A corneal biopsy in one patient disclosed deposits of acid mucopolysaccharide, consistent with one of two previously published cases.

CONCLUSION

A series of patients with scleromyxedema was reviewed. This systemic disorder infrequently may cause visually significant ophthalmic manifestations, including eyelid changes and corneal deposits. Further study is needed to characterize better the nature of the corneal opacities.