Morphea is a skin condition that involves a patch or patches of discolored or hardened skin on the face, neck, hands, torso, or feet. But it can affect tissue directly under the skin such as the muscles, nerves, and bones. Localized morphea limits itself to one or several patches, ranging in size from a halfinch to 12 inches in diameter. Morphea is a form of scleroderma that is more common in women than men, in a ratio 3. Hi cristina, yes i understood that you have been diagnosed with localized scleroderma. Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a disorder characterized by thickening and induration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue due to excessive collagen deposition.
Linear scleroderma definition of linear scleroderma by. Mri findings in deep and generalized morphea localized scleroderma article pdf available in american journal of roentgenology 1901. Nomenclature, etiology, pathogenesis, prognosis, and. Localized scleroderma is characterized by thickening of the skin from excessive collagen deposits. Morphoea american spelling, morphea is characterised by an area of inflammation and fibrosis thickening and hardening of the skin due to increased collagen deposition. Morphea is distinct from systemic sclerosis scleroderma, an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by acral or diffuse cutaneous sclerosis and frequent systemic manifestations. The two main types are systemic scleroderma and localized scleroderma. These are followed by the appearance of firm, hard, ovalshaped plaques with ivory centers that are encircled by a violet ring. Learn more about the clinical features, pathophysiology, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, and the prognosis.
Morphea is distinct from systemic sclerosis scleroderma, an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by acral or diffuse cutaneous. Abstract morphea or localized scleroderma is a distinctive inflammatory disease that leads to sclerosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Some patients with classic morphea have sclerosis due to borrelia burgdorferi infection, and if not to sclerotic, the lesions can disappear with. There has been extensive clinical descrip tion of morphea,1 but very little is known re.
Morphea localized scleroderma symptoms and prognosis. Only 10% of children affected are diagnosed with diffuse systemic scleroderma. The condition is rare and thought to affect less than 3 out of. Localized types of scleroderma are those limited to the skin and related tissues and, in some cases, the muscle below. Patients present with single or multiple inflammatory or sclerotic plaques. Localized scleroderma is a skin condition that can take. Morphea is a fibrosing disorder of the skin without systemic involvement. Generalized morphea is a subtype of localized scleroderma, which lacks systemic manifestations and displays widespread, multiple, wellcircumscribed. The most common form of scleroderma among children is localized scleroderma, and it is more likely to affect girls than boys. However, systemic scleroderma is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms.
Scleroderma means hard skin and is pronounced skleroderma. However, when too much collagen is made, the skin becomes stiff and hard. Morphea occurs in childhood as well as in adult life. Localized scleroderma is a condition characterized by varying degrees of hardening of the skin, which happens because of abnormal collagen deposits unlike systemic scleroderma, localized scleroderma rarely involves internal organs. Localized fibrosing disorders include a spectrum of rare conditions that frequently begin in childhood. Morphea or localized scleroderma is a rare disorder with characteristic clinical features. Departmentofdermatology andimmunodermatology,medicaluniversity ofwarsaw,koszykowa 82astr,02 008warsaw,poland abstract localized scleroderma losc, also known as morphea, is a rare fibrosing disorder of the skin. Morphea represents a wide variety of clinical entities that seen to be on the opposite end of the scleroderma spectrum from systemic sclerosis. Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is an idiopathic, inflammatory disorder that causes sclerotic changes in the skin. Localized scleroderma morphea and antibody to borrelia. Scleroderma is a group of autoimmune diseases that may result in changes to the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. The treatment of this disease involves the use of longterm immunomodulators. Morphea, also called localized scleroderma, is a sclerosing skin disorder that resembles scleroderma systemic sclerosis in terms of cutaneous histopathological features, but.
The treatment of this disease involves the use of long term immunomodulators. Systemic involvement in localized sclerodermamorphea. Morphea localized scleroderma symptoms and prognosis see online here morphea or localized scleroderma is a rare disorder with characteristic clinical features. It most commonly affects the trunk but also occurs on the face and extremities.
The photo depicts a patient with early morphea on the. Scleroderma can be classified into 2 broad categories, which include localized scleroderma and systemic scleroderma. This entity is subdivided into linear scleroderma, plaque. The skin may be thickened, hard, and rigid, and pigmented patches may occur. There are two generally recognized types of localized scleroderma. The condition exists on the trunk and sometimes on the extremities and face. Connective tissue is the material inside your body that gives your tissues their shape and helps keep them strong. Localized scleroderma is different from systemic scleroderma, in that it only affects the skin, related tissues, and muscles below the tissues. I was just saying that it is possible to be ana positive without having systemic scleroderma. Characterization of patients with clinical overlap of morphea and.
Morphea morfeeah comes from a greek word that means form or structure. Morphea is localized scleroderma confined to the skin. When the morphea goes deeper, uva1 phototherapy may be prescribed. Do you know what your actual positive ana result was, and if it was done by the ifa method. Morphea is a skin condition that causes patches of reddish skin that thicken into firm, ovalshaped areas. Morphea is diagnosed based on findings of skin examination and skin biopsy. Some people have both morphea and linear scleroderma, which is referred to as generalized morphea. Claussen1 jan fritz1,5 horger m, fierlbeck g, kuemmerledeschner j, et al. There are two types of localized scleroderma, namely morphea and localized linear scleroderma. Localized scleroderma is more common in children, who have a condition. The term scleroderma covers various types of morphoea and systemic sclerosis subtypes of morphoea vary according to the location of involved skin. Scleroderma can range from a form localized to the skin to a severe disease the effects the internal organs known as systemic scleroderma. Types of scleroderma there are two main forms of scleroderma. Based on clinical morphologic findings, morphea can be classified into five groups.
Occasionally, other diseasemodifying agents, including dpenicillamine, azathioprine, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide, are necessary to control a severe inflammatory. It often affects the skin tissues and does not cause harm to the other major organs. Morphea subtypes are classified according to their clinical presentation and depth of tissue involvement. Linear scleroderma and deep morphea aggressive treatment, including systemic corticosteroids, may be necessary. Morphea is characterized by skin thickening with increased quantities of collagen in the indurative lesion. Treatment of morphea localized scleroderma in adults. Mri findings in deep and generalized morphea localized.
It is a group of diseases that cause abnormal growth of connective tissue. Morphea is an uncommon condition that is thought to affect 2 to 4 in 100,000 people. Symptoms may include areas of thickened skin, stiffness, feeling tired, and poor blood flow to the fingers or toes with cold exposure. The first signs of the disease are reddish patches of skin. Morphea localized scleroderma is a cutaneous disorder characterized by patches of welldefined, localized inflammatory sclerosis of the skin. These then become hard, slightly depressed, ovalshaped plaques which usually have a whitish or yellowish center surrounded by a pinkish or purplish halo. Scleroderma nord national organization for rare disorders. For some people, localized scleroderma is serious and disabling. Adequate studies on the incidence and prevalence have not been performed. Scleroderma is a disease that causes fibrosis hardening of the skin and sometimes the internal organs. Update on the classification and treatment of localized scleroderma. Morphea is a form of localized scleroderma that exists on a distinct part of the skin.
Uva1 produces long wavelengths that can deeply penetrate the skin to reduce hardness. Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder that causes sclerotic changes in the skin. The reader will be able to apply these findings to patient management. There are two subtypes of this form of scleroderma. Disease activity typically persists for three to six years, although some patients develop more persistent or recurring episodes of activity. Some patients with generalized morphea also have a band of thickening on an arm or leg as seen in linear scleroderma, another type of localized scleroderma see below. Collagen is a protein normally present in our skin that provides structural support. A type of light treatment called narrowband uvb treatment can be helpful. A morphea this is the most common type of localized scleroderma.
The condition sometimes appears on areas treated by radiation therapy. The cutaneous lesions eventually evolve from a sclerotic stage to a nonindurated stage, and residual hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation follows. In this article, we will learn about the clinical features including the di. The disease can be either localized to the skin or involve other organs in addition to the skin. Morphea scleroderma usually begins as patches of yellowish or ivorycolored rigid, dry skin. As opposed to generalized morphea, deep morphea is confined to a single or a few mri findings in deep and generalized morphea localized scleroderma marius horger1 gerhard fierlbeck2 jasmin kuemmerledeschner3 nikolay tzaribachev3 manfred wehrmann4 claus d. The nomenclature of scleroderma has changed dramatically in recent years, with morphea localized scleroderma, limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, diffuse.
Systemic sclerosis can be further subclassified based on the extent of involvement. These lesions are characterized by circumscribed fibrotic areas involving different levels of the dermis, subcutis, and, sometimes, underlying soft tissue and bone. Mor phologically, it may be classified as occurring in guttate, en plaque, generalized, and linear forms. Morphea genetic and rare diseases information center. Morphea, or localized scleroderma, usually begins between the ages of 20 to 50 years as patches of yellowish or ivorycolored rigid, dry skin inflammatory stage. Scleroderma can be classified into disease restricted to the skin localized scleroderma, including the morphea and linear forms and systemic disease with visceral organ involvement systemic sclerosis box 211. It can be clinically classified in different forms. Morphea is classified according to the localization of the lesions and the depth of tissue involvement into localized or circumscribed limited to one or. May i please tell you that there are rules on this site against solicitation of sales, and that there is currently no known cure for scleroderma, and that some herbs can hurt scleroderma patients more than they help. There are four different types of morphea, generalized morphea, pansclerotic morphea, linear morphea, and morphea of children. Localized scleroderma morphea like is a rare disease in dogs and extremely rare in cats and it is an uncommon chronic connective tissue disease.