Progressive Hemifacial Atrophy and Linear Scleroderma En Coup de Sabre: A Spectrum of the Same Disease?

Clinical and therapeutic course in head variants of linear morphea in adults: a retrospective review

Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS) and en coup de sabre (ECDS) are head variants of linear morphea with functional and structural implications. This study describes the clinical course, autoimmune co-morbidities, complications, and treatment of adults with PRS/ECDS at a tertiary referral center. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all 34 adult patients with PRS/ECDS identified through billing code search and seen by dermatologists at our institution between 2015 and 2021. Eight patients (23.5%) had ECDS, 8 (23.5%) had PRS, and 18 (52.9%) had overlap. Twenty-six patients (76.5%) reported ocular, oral, and/or neurologic symptoms, and 8 (23.5%) had concomitant autoimmune/inflammatory conditions. Sixteen patients (47.1%) had a skin biopsy, and 25 (73.5%) had imaging. Forty-six MRIs were obtained, of which 6 (13.0%) reported intracranial findings and 25 (54.3%) reported disease-related connective tissue damage. Twenty-four patients (70.6%) underwent systemic treatment during their disease course per available clinical records. Seventeen patients (70.8%) had improved or stable disease upon treatment completion, with an average duration of 22.2 months. Ten patients (41.7%) reported recurrence of disease following the treatment course. To address changes to facial contour, 6 patients (17.6%) opted for procedural treatments. One patient (16.7%) experienced morphea reactivation following a filler injection performed off-immunosuppression. Compared to findings in children, our study suggests adults with PRS/ECDS are more likely to have oral and ocular complications but experience less severe neurologic symptoms. While systemic treatments appear beneficial in most adult patients with PRS/ECDS, disease may recur following discontinuation.

Occlusive retinal vasculitis associated with systemic sclerosis and antiphospholipid antibodies

PURPOSE

To report a series of patients with occlusive retinal vasculitis associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and elevated antiphospholipid antibody titers.

METHOD

Case series. Main outcome measures included clinical and fluorescein angiographic findings at presentation and over time.

OBSERVATIONS

Case 1 - A 61-year-old woman initially diagnosed with idiopathic, bilateral panuveitis and retinal vasculitis causing peripheral nonperfusion was subsequently diagnosed with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc). Her ocular inflammation and retinal vasculitis were controlled with topical and periocular corticosteroids, but she eventually developed peripheral retinal vascular occlusion that progressed to macular ischemia 11 years after presentation. Repeat serologic evaluation detected interval development of antiphospholipid antibodies. Case 2 - A 58-year-old woman was found to have bilateral peripheral nonperfusion and retinal neovascularization in her right eye. Given her elevated hemoglobin A1c of 8.5%, she was diagnosed with presumed proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Three years after initial presentation, she was diagnosed with lcSSc. Subsequent serum workup detected elevated B2-glycoprotein antibody titers. Her peripheral nonperfusion progressed despite adequate glycemic control, resulting in further neovascularization in each eye. Case 3 - A 40-year-old woman with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) and elevated titers of anti-cardiolipin antibodies developed multiple branch retinal artery occlusions with subsequent neovascularization of the retina, optic disc, and angle in the right eye.

CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE

Vision-threatening occlusive retinal vasculitis may develop in select patients with SSc. The presence of elevated anti-phospholipid antibody titers may confer increased risk for this vision-threatening complication.

Therapeutic and Reconstructive Management Options in Scleroderma (Morphea) en Coup de Sabre in Children and Adults. A Systematic Literature Review

Scleroderma (morphea) en coup de sabre is a localized subtype restricted to the frontoparietal region of the head. Current treatment paradigms rely on low levels of evidence, primarily case reports and case series-supported by expert opinions. The aim of this article was to systematically analyze current data related to the treatment of localized scleroderma en coup de sabre. The databases Scopus, PubMed, and EBSCO were searched for all reports discussing the treatment of localized scleroderma en coup de sabre. The keywords en coup de sabre, “facial linear scleroderma”, and “morphea linearis”, combined with “treatment” or “therapy” were used as search terms. A total of 34 articles analyzed treatment outcomes for patients with localized scleroderma en coup de sabre including 4 retrospective cohort studies, 2 prospective cohort studies, 4 case series, and 24 case reports, representing a total of 69 patients (38 children and 31 adults). Methotrexate was the most commonly investigated treatment (26 patients) with a highest response rate (26/26, 100%). Other treatments included systemic glucocorticosteroids (nine patients), followed by UVA1 (four patients), mycophenolate mofetil (two patients), hydroxychloroquine (five patients), abatacept (two patients), tocilizumab (three patients), cyclosporine (one patient), interferon gamma (one patient), PUVA therapy (two patients), NB-UVB therapy (one patient), and pulsed dye laser (one patient). Reconstructive and surgery treatment was successfully used for lesions with settled disease activity to improve the cosmetic aspect of the lesions. Conclusion: methotrexate is the most often-studied treatment and reported good clinical outcomes in children and adults with localized scleroderma en coup de sabre.

Parry Romberg disease with En Coup de Sabre Scleroderma: Effect of tocilizumab on periodontal bone inflammation

Parry Romberg disease and En Coupe de Sabre Scleroderma are frequently associated disorders that affect the face and can cause severe aesthetic and functional impairment. Systemic immunosuppression is the gold standard of first-line treatment in the pediatric rheumatology standpoint although it is often delayed in the pediatric dermatology clinics and more often used in cases of refractory neurological impairment. We report on a case with dental root resorption and severe periodontal bone inflammation detected on magnetic resonance imaging, which was successfully treated with the anti-IL-6 agent tocilizumab.

Linear Scleroderma of the Head - Updates in management of Parry Romberg Syndrome and En coup de sabre: A rapid scoping review across subspecialties

To provide an update on the current management, including evaluation and treatment, and the available diagnostic tools for linear scleroderma of the head, i.e., Parry-Romberg Syndrome and en coup de sabre (PRS/ECDS). A rapid scoping review of the literature was conducted to include manuscripts published in English between 2010 and 2019. Literature searches were performed in PubMed and EMBASE databases. The were analyzed for descriptive statistic reporting. This study reviewed 215 manuscripts reporting these 1430 patients. Surgical reports comprised the majority of the reviewed literature. Most PRS/ECDS did not appear to receive comprehensive multisubspecialty evaluation for extracutaneous manifestations; 21% of cases noted neurological screening, 4% noted dental screening, and 3% noted ophthalmologic screening. Methotrexate and glucocorticoids remain the most frequent choice for immunosuppressive treatment, though fewer than 7% of patients reported receiving systemic medical therapies. Surgical procedures for cosmetic or functional improvement were common (59%) among the reported patients. Autologous fat grafting was the most frequently utilized cosmetic treatment (50% of procedures) followed by free flap transfers (24% of procedures). There is ongoing need for standardized evaluation, monitoring, and treatment to prevent morbidity in PRS/ECDS, especially in children. When these patients are managed by rheumatologists, methotrexate, and steroids remain the first-line treatment, but a review of the published literature reflects that this may be a minority. Most PRS/ECDS patients are not evaluated in a multidisciplinary fashion. We propose comprehensive evaluations across subspecialties at the baseline and follow-up levels to monitor disease activity and record extracutaneous manifestations, treatment algorithms, and surgical intervention considerations.

A case of overlapping adult-onset linear scleroderma and Parry-Romberg syndrome presenting with widespread ipsilateral neurogenic involvement

Linear scleroderma is a variant of localized scleroderma. We report a 43-year-old woman who had developed left arm weakness and linear scleroderma on her back during pregnancy at 25 years of age, followed by left hemifacial atrophy and left leg weakness. She had multiple linear scleroderma lesions on her trunk and left limbs, left eyelid ptosis, impairment of vertical movement and abduction of the left eye, left hemifacial atrophy, and weakness and atrophy of the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, and proximal limb muscles on the left side. On serology, antibodies to U1-ribonucleoprotein and Jo-1 were positive; anti-scleroderma-70 antibody was negative. Skin biopsy demonstrated increased hypertrophic collagen fibers without inflammatory infiltrates. Needle electromyography of left limb muscles revealed mild neurogenic patterns; left quadriceps muscle biopsy showed chronic neurogenic changes. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild left hemispheric atrophy. This is a rare case of linear scleroderma and Parry-Romberg syndrome presenting with widespread ipsilateral neurogenic manifestations.