Coexistencia de morfea en gotas generalizada y liquen escleroatrófico: a propósito de un caso

Morphea: The 2023 update

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a chronic inflammatory connective tissue disorder with variable clinical presentations, that affects both adults and children. It is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the skin and underlying soft tissue, in certain cases even of the surrounding structures such as fascia, muscle, bone and central nervous system. While the etiology is still unknown, many factors may contribute to disease development, including genetic predisposition, vascular dysregulation, T_H1/T_H2 imbalance with chemokines and cytokines associated with interferon-γ and profibrotic pathways as well as certain environmental factors. Since the disease may progress to permanent cosmetic and functional sequelae, it is crucial to properly assess the disease activity and to initiate promptly the adequate treatment, thus preventing subsequent damage. The mainstay of treatment is based on corticosteroids and methotrexate. These, however, are limited by their toxicity, especially if applied long-term. Furthermore, corticosteroids and methotrexate often do not sufficiently control the disease and/or the frequent relapses of morphea. This review presents the current understanding of morphea by discussing its epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prognosis. In addition, it will describe recent pathogenetic findings, thus proposing potential novel targets for therapeutic development in morphea.

A case of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus accompanying bullous morphea

Bullous morphea is a rare form of morphea characterized with bullae on or around atrophic morphea plaques. Whereas lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) is a disease the etiology of which is not fully known, and which is characterized with sclerosis. Coexistence of morphea and LSA has been identified in some cases. Some authors believe that these two diseases are different manifestations which are on the same spectrum. The 70-year-old patient stated herein, presented to us for 6 months with annular, atrophic plaques, ivory color in the middle, surrounded by living erythema, on the front and back of the trunk. Occasionally bulla formation on the plaques on the trunk lateral was identified. Fibrotic and atrophic plaques of ligneous hardness were present on the front side of tibia of both legs. In the histopathologic examination, the lesions were found concordant with bullous morphea and LSA. With colchicine 1.5 mg/day, pentoxifylline 1,200 mg/day, topical calcipotriol ointment and clobetasol propionate cream, the erythema in the patient's lesions faded and softening in the fibrotic plaques was observed. Concomitance of bullous morphea and LSA is a rarely seen, interesting coexistence which suggests a common, as yet unknown, underlying pathogenesis.