NYMC Faculty Publications
Localized Scleroderma: a Clinical Review
DOI
10.2174/1573397112666160907105434
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