Anti-NOR90 antibodies are usually found in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc); however, their clinical relevance remains obscure. We previously developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring them to investigate the features of anti-NOR90 antibodies. As we additionally obtained antibody-positive serum samples after our previous research, reexamined significance Serum fr...

Fibrosis, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix accumulation, is a common feature of many connective tissue diseases, notably scleroderma (systemic sclerosis). Experimental studies suggest that a complex network of intercellular interactions involving endothelial cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts and immune cells, using an array of molecular mediators, drives the pathogenic events ...

SSc can be associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease, a composite response measure that will capture differing organ involvements and patient-reported outcomes is desirable. Recently, with participation of the Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium, a standardized core set of items were proposed for SSc clinical trials using a structur...

Docetaxel (Taxotere), an anticancer agent, is known to cause various reactions, including hypersensitivity, oedema, skin toxicity with erythrodysesthesia syndrome, infusion site reactions, alopecia, nail onycholysis, nail pigmentation, photosensitivity, scleroderma and stomatitis. However, of all the reported effects, photosensitivity has only rarely been described in the literature. We experie...

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous tumor with a possibly misleading presentation. It is rare in childhood. We report an 18-month-old child with an acquired atrophic plaque of the left ankle. Based on clinical findings, initial proposed diagnoses included localized scleroderma and localized lipoatrophy. At the age of 5 years the plaque had increased in size and become a p...

Cutaneous metastases of the breast carcinomas can present clinically as nodules, plaques and tumors (most commonly as nodules) as well as 'erysipelas-like' lesions are known as 'carcinoma erysipeloides'. We want to share our experience in diagnosing a middle-aged lady with carcinoma erysipeloides secondary to breast carcinoma and her management as this is commonly misdiagnosed as cellulitis or ...

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) or “Scleroderma” is a disease characterized by cutaneous and visceral fibrosis that affects both the skin and internal organs. The worldwide prevalence ranges from 50-300 cases per million (Chifflot et al., 2008) and much of the morbidity in this population results from pulmonary complications. In fact, nearly 70% of scleroderma patients show some form of lung disease. ...