BACKGROUND Hemifacial atrophy (Parry-Romberg syndrome) is a relatively rare disease. The etiology of the disease is not clear. Some authors postulate its relation with limited scleroderma linearis. Linear scleroderma "en coup de sabre" is characterized by clinical presence of most commonly one-sided linear syndrome. In a number of patients, neurological affection is the medium of the disease. T...

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is a disease of unknown cause, the hallmark of which is induration of the skin. This bad condition of the skin influences negatively the quality of life of patients with scleroderma. The aim of the study was to verify the efficacy of two formulations, specifically designed to wash, moisturize and soothe the scleroderma skin. An independent, randomized, double bl...

Blood circulation function of peripheral blood vessels in skin dermis was evaluated employing an optical sensor with a pressurization mechanism using the blood outflow and reflow characteristics. The device contains a light source and an optical sensor. When applied to the skin surface, it first exerts the primary pressure (higher than the systolic blood pressure), causing an outflow of blood f...

OBJECTIVES Although case reports and some patient series suggest an increased risk of cancer among patients with scleroderma, there are no population based studies to support this association. A population based follow up study was therefore carried out of 233 patients with scleroderma from the six-county Uppsala health care region of Sweden for the time period 1955-84. METHODS Using the inpa...

OBJECTIVES Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and dermatomyositis are two prototypic autoimmune diseases that are strongly associated with malignancy. While specific autoantibodies in these diseases are markers of an increased risk of cancer at scleroderma and dermatomyositis onset, it is not known whether these autoantibodies are biomarkers of cancer risk in patients without rheumatic disease. ...

Up to 80% of patients with scleroderma have lung disease, with interstitial lung disease (ILD) being the most common manifestation. Currently, there is no definitive therapy for this condition. The objective of the study is to investigate the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to treat scleroderma interstitial ILD. We report a retrospective chart review of 17 patients with scleroderma ILD treat...

253 Introduction Systemic sclerosis or scleroderma is an acquired disorder that typically results in fibrosis of the skin and internal organs (1). Although the pathogenesis of this disease is unclear, it includes inflammation, autoimmune attack, and vascular damage, leading to the activation of fibroblasts (2, 3). The reason for the presence of abnormal fibroblasts in scleroderma is not yet kno...