[Clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with scleredema].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with scleredema.

METHOD: The clinical and pathologic data of 67 outpatients with scleredema who were admitted to PUMC Hospital from 1982 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Neck and upper back lesions were detected in all patients, but no hand or foot involvement was noted. Among 54 patients who received serum immunoglobulin examination, 19 (35.2%) showed abnormal serum immunoglobulin results. Among 67 patients, 22 (32.8%) had concomitant diabetes mellitus. Alcian blue staining was performed in 35 patients, among whom 23 (65.7%) had positive results and 12 (34.3%) had negative results.

CONCLUSIONS

Scleredema may have systemic involvements in addition to skin lesions. Patients with scleredema also tends to have concomitant diabetes mellitus. Alcian blue staining is not sufficient to differentiate scleredema and scleroderma.