Scleredema Follow-up

  • Author: Misha A Rosenbach, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 17, 2010
 

Further Outpatient Care

Patients with long-standing scleredema should be periodically monitored using the results of serum protein and immunoprotein electrophoresis to detect the development of paraproteinemia or myeloma. Blood dyscrasias may occur several years after the onset of scleredema.

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Complications

Complications include the following:

  • Limited range of motion
  • Poor wound healing
  • Recurrent skin infections
  • Restrictive lung disease
  • Dysarthria
  • Dysphagia
  • Difficulty in closing the eyes
  • Death (rare)
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Prognosis

The course of scleredema is unpredictable. Patients in group 1, particularly pediatric patients, typically have a self-limited course, with the disease resolving in 6 months to 2 years. However, a number of reports exist in which these patients had a protracted course or, rarely, long-term cardiac or skeletal muscle involvement. Patients in groups 2 and 3 typically have a slowly progressive or unremitting course over many years. Reports of relapses following apparent improvement also exist.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Misha A Rosenbach, MD  Assistant Professor, Departments of Medicine and Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Misha A Rosenbach, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Academy, Medical Dermatology Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Centocor Grant/research funds None

Coauthor(s)

Victoria P Werth, MD  Professor of Dermatology and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Victoria P Werth, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, Medical Dermatology Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Susan M Swetter, MD  Director, Pigmented Lesion and Cutaneous Melanoma Clinic, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System

Susan M Swetter, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Pacific Dermatologic Association, Society for Investigative Dermatology, Society for Melanoma Research, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD  Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Middle-aged man who has diabetes with scleredema on the upper part of the back.
Middle-aged man who has diabetes with scleredema on the upper part of the back.
 
 
 
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