Localized Scleroderma: a Clinical Review

Authors

M Tratenberg
F Gutwein
V Rao
Kirk Sperber, New York Medical CollegeFollow
Amy Wasserman, New York Medical College
Julia Ash, New York Medical CollegeFollow

Journal Title

Current Rheumatology Reviews

First Page

86

Last Page

92

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

January 2017

Department

Medicine

Abstract

Localized scleroderma (LS) is characterized by excessive collagen deposition leading to thickening of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue or both. The outcome for most patients with localized scleroderma is directly related to the type and stage of the affected tissue. The major challenge for untreated patients is not increased mortality risk, rather deformity and growth defects from skin, muscle and bone abnormalities. Treatment is individualized to type and stage of the lesion and may include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies. Among the pharmacologic modalities, methotrexate with systemic glucocorticoids is currently the mainstay of treatment. More controlled trials are needed to determine the length of treatment and the maintenance dose of this combination therapy.

Recommended Citation

Tratenberg, M., Gutwein, F., Rao, V., Sperber, K., Wasserman, A., & Ash, J. (2017). Localized Scleroderma: a Clinical Review. Current Rheumatology Reviews, 13 (2), 86-92. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573397112666160907105434