Treatment of Scleredema Diabeticorum with Tamoxifen: Figure 1

Scleredema Diabeticorum: A Rare Metabolic Connective Tissue Manifestation of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Causing External Restrictive Lung Disease

Scleredema diabeticorum (SD) is a rare metabolic connective tissue manifestation of diabetes mellitus (DM). SD commonly manifests in male patients with poorly controlled prolonged DM with obesity. In SD, the skin gets stiffened, thickened, and leathery in texture with a peau d'orange appearance commonly involving the posterior aspect of the neck and chest wall. Extensive chest wall skin involvement restricts lung movement, causing external restrictive lung disease and hypoventilation. In this case report, we present a 50-year-old male patient with poorly controlled type 2 DM for 10 years, complicated with established diabetic microvascular complications and extensive involvement of SD over the back of the neck and chest with external restrictive lung disease.

[Scleredema adultorum : Clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, differential diagnosis, treatment option]

Scleredema adultorum (SA) is a rare scleromucinous disease of unknown etiology that characteristically leads to wodden induration located on the neck and upper trunk. Three types of SA can be distinguished according to the association with pre-existing or underlying disease: SA in association with infections (mostly streptococcal infections of the upper respiratory tract), SA in association with monoclonal gammopathy, and SA in association with diabetes. The clinical findings, extent of disease, and course substantially differ depending on the subtype of SA. Spontaneous regression often occurs in infection-associated SA, whereas patients with diabetes or monoclonal gammopathy usually show a chronic progressive course of disease. Phototherapy and methotrexate are the current recommended first-line treatments for SA, clinical improvement often takes several months, and treatment failure is frequent. Physiotherapy should be offered in all types of SA in order to improve motility.

[Buschke's scleredema successfully treated with extracorporeal photopheresis]

BACKGROUND

Scleredema adultorum (Buschke's scleredema) is a cutaneous mucinosis of unknown origin, clinically characterized by a diffuse induration of the skin usually involving the neck, shoulders and back, which limits patients' mobility.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a 50-year-old woman who presented a chronic sclerodermiform syndrome for 2 years associated with type 1 diabetes. Physical examination revealed an extensive skin induration involving the shoulders, neck and back. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of scleredema adultorum. The patient was treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (EPP) twice a month for two months. At follow-up, mobility was highly improved after two months. Beneficial effect of EPP was maintained on the long term while sessions were spaced.

DISCUSSION

EPP is an unconventional treatment of Buschke's scleredema. We described a case of Buschke's scleredema successfully treated with EPP which may represent a therapeutic option for the treatment of scleredema.

Scleredema Diabeticorum with Superimposed Cellulitis and Abscess Formation

Scleredema diabeticorum is a rare cutaneous manifestation of diabetes mellitus. We present a case of an obese male with poorly controlled diabetes who came to the hospital with upper back pain and subsequently developed sepsis due to a small deep-seated abscess in his back that was drained and treated with antibiotics. He was also found to have extensive induration of the skin over his back and neck. Skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of scleredema diabeticorum.

Diabetes mellitus and the skin

Several dermatoses are routinely associated with diabetes mellitus, especially in patients with chronic disease. This relationship can be easily proven in some skin disorders, but it is not so clear in others. Dermatoses such necrobiosis lipoidica, granuloma annulare, acanthosis nigricans and others are discussed in this text, with an emphasis on proven link with the diabetes or not, disease identification and treatment strategy used to control those dermatoses and diabetes.

Scleredema. A multicentre study of characteristics, comorbidities, course and therapy in 44 patients

BACKGROUND

The prognostic and therapeutic features of scleredema are poorly documented.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the characteristics of patients with scleredema regarding demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, therapeutic interventions and course.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicentre study.

RESULTS

We identified 44 patients (26 men).The mean age at diagnosis was 53.8 years. The most common associated disorders were endocrine/metabolic diseases including 30 patients suffering from diabetes, mostly type 2 diabetes. Monoclonal gammopathies were confirmed in five cases. A preceding respiratory tract infection was not a feature. Treatments with different combination or sequential modalities were used with variable results. Phototherapy (UVA1 or PUVA) was the treatment associated with higher, although partial response. Systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs were reserved to patients with severe disease in whom phototherapy had failed or for patients with multiple myeloma. Forty-one patients were followed up (mean period: 32.2 months).Thirty-nine patients are alive, 30 with and 9 without skin disease. Two patients died of cardiovascular complications due to myeloma and severe diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Scleredema is a chronic debilitating disease associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, unresponsive to various treatments but not necessarily a life-threatening condition. Although there is no definitive treatment, phototherapy should be attempted first. Treatment of primary disease including strict glycaemic control combined with physical therapy should be also employed.

Localized cutaneous fibrosing disorders

This article acquaints the reader with disorders of the skin that might mimic systemic sclerosis but whose pathology is localized to the skin and/or has extracutaneous manifestations that are different than systemic sclerosis. These disorders include localized scleroderma (morphea), eosinophilic fasciitis, scleredema, scleromyxedema, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, and chronic graft-versus-host disease. Particular emphasis is placed on clinical and histopathologic features that help the clinician differentiate between these disorders. Treatment options are briefly reviewed.

Successful Treatment of Scleredema Diabeticorum by Combining Local PUVA and Colchicine: A Case Report

Scleredema is a rare condition of unknown pathogenesis. It is classically divided into three types, based on its association with postinfection (usually streptococcal), monoclonal gammopathy and diabetes mellitus (scleredema diabeticorum). Scleredema diabeticorum often has a subtle onset, persistent involvement and is refractory to therapies. Numerous therapies have been tried, with mixed and inconsistent results. We report herein a case of scleredema diabeticorum that was successfully treated by combining local PUVA with colchicine.

Scleroderma mimics

Scleroderma is a rare systemic autoimmune disease with multiple organ manifestations, including skin fibrosis. The groups of disorders classified as scleroderma mimics share the common thread of skin thickening but are otherwise quite incongruous in terms of underlying disease process and other organ involvement. This article reviews the clinical presentation, etiology, and treatment options available for scleroderma mimics, including morphea, scleredema, diabetic cheiroarthropathy, scleromyxedema, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, and eosinophilic fasciitis. Through greater understanding of these diseases and the associated extradermal implications, we hope to facilitate recognition of scleroderma and its mimics.