The First Presentation of Localized Scleroderma at Birth: Scleroderma as a Differential Diagnosis of Congenital Skin Lesion

Abstract

Localized scleroderma is an uncommon autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and underlying tissue without involvement of blood vessels or internal organs. It usually affects children during later childhood, and early presentation of localized scleroderma during infancy is rare. In the current study, we report a child with localized scleroderma-related presentations occurring at birth. A 2-day-old male neonate presented with a firm, erythematous, and slightly pigmented plaque on his left thigh, leading to a change in the diameter of the affected foot and contracture of the left knee. At the age of 7 months, he was referred to our rheumatology clinic with normal growth and development. Laboratory studies, including urine and blood high-performance liquid chromatography assay, antinuclear antibodies, antitopoisomerase I, and rheumatic factor, were in the normal range. No signs of ocular involvement were noted during ophthalmological consultation. Skin biopsy showed mild acanthosis and collagen bundles, which replaced the fat around the sweat glands. A final diagnosis of localized scleroderma was made. Treatment was started with oral prednisolone, oral methotrexate (MTX), and colchicine. The skin lesion stopped progressing after 3 months of treatment. Steroid was then tapered over 6 months, while MTX and colchicine were continued for 2 years. Localized scleroderma during early infancy is a rare disease, but it should be considered as a differential in infants with erythematous and firm lesions on their body at birth because early treatment can prevent future complications.

Keywords

localized scleroderma - linear scleroderma - diagnosis - early infancy - morphea

Introduction

Scleroderma is a group of autoimmune diseases involving the connective tissue, characterized by excessive deposition of collagen in the skin, internal organs, and blood vessels.[1] Scleroderma includes two forms of the disease: systemic sclerosis, characterized by skin, arteries, and visceral fibrosis, and localized scleroderma characterized by fibrosis of the skin and underlying tissue without involvement of blood vessels or internal organs.[2] Although localized scleroderma is uncommon, it is more common in children as compared with systemic sclerosis.[3] In both adults and children, localized scleroderma is more frequent among women with a female-to-male ratio of 2:1.[4]

Localized scleroderma, also called “morphea,” usually manifests as an erythematous patch or firm, waxy-like patch surrounded by a lilac ring, or both in an active stage of the disease. The inactive stage of morphea is characterized by skin/subcutaneous tissue atrophy and hypo- or hyperpigmented patches.

Morphea has a different skin involvement pattern from systemic sclerosis and has been classified in several subgroups based on the pattern and depth of the lesions. Peterson et al[5] described the traditional classification containing five subclassifications: plaque morphea, bullous morphea, generalized morphea, linear morphea, and deep and pansclerotic morpheae. The most common subtype in children is linear scleroderma, with the prevalence 50 to 60% in children with localized scleroderma.[2] Linear scleroderma, characterized by a linear stick involvement of skin, subcutaneous fat, and often, the underlying tissues, presents as a single unilateral band on the extremities (with legs as the most common sites of involvement), trunk, or head.[6] [7] Involvement of extremities has the worst outcomes, especially when the lesions cross the joint, since there is a potential for joint contracture and associated limb shortening.

Previously reported studies show that localized scleroderma usually has its onset during later childhood.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Based on our literature search, congenital presentation of localized scleroderma is rare. In the current study, we report a child with localized scleroderma-related presentations occurring at birth.

Case Presentation

A 2-day-old male neonate presented with a firm, erythematous, and slightly pigmented plaque on his left thigh, leading to a change in the diameter of the affected foot and contracture of the left knee. He was referred to an orthopedist when he was 3 months old with a suspicion of arthrogryposis. During this time, the lesion had progressed linearly from the top of the thigh to the leg. Preclinical assessments including the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography, and electromyography (EMG) nerve conduction velocity test were normal.

Subsequently, due to the lack of diagnosis and pattern of skin involvement, he was sent to our referral rheumatology clinic at the age of 7 months. We considered metabolic disorders as the main differential diagnosis based on the age of the patient and skin stiffness. He had normal growth and development, as well as clinical examination except for skin involvement in the leg and limited range of motion in the knee. His thyroid tests, and urine and blood high-performance liquid chromatography assay were normal. Other laboratory tests, such as complete blood cells and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were normal, and antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), antitopoisomerase I, and rheumatic factor (RF), were negative. There were no pathological findings during his ophthalmological consultation. Skin biopsy, taken at the age of 9 months, showed mild acanthosis and collagen bundles, which replaced the fat around the sweat glands ([Fig. 1]). Adnexal structures showed atrophy that was compatible with scleroderma (morphea). In immunofluorescent studies, immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, IgM, and C3 were reported normal. A final diagnosis of localized scleroderma was made.

Fig. 1 Pathological view showing mild acanthosis and collagen bundles (A: ×100. B: ×200).

Based on the clinical features and histological pattern, a diagnosis of congenital localized scleroderma (CLS) was made. At the age of 9 months, treatment with oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg), oral methotrexate (MTX) (10 mg/m²), and colchicine (0.25 mg daily) was started. Progression of the skin lesion stopped after 3 months of treatment. Subsequently, corticosteroids were tapered over 6 months, while MTX and colchicine were continued for 2 years. According to the patient's age, rehabilitation program was initiated after the acute phase of the disease. Currently, due to a lack of progression in the size of the lesion, treatment has been discontinued since the past 4 years. He is now 8 years old, and the involved leg shows significant skin and subcutaneous atrophy as compared with other leg, resulting in diameter discrepancy between the two legs ([Figs. 2] and [3]).

Fig. 2 Dissimilarity of the lower limbs in different views at 10 months of age.

Fig. 3 Dissimilarity of the lower limbs at 7 years of age.

Discussion

Linear scleroderma is an autoimmune condition that affects the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.[13] It is the most common subtype of scleroderma in childhood.[4] The etiology of this disorder is unknown. Infection, trauma, radiation, and febrile illness can trigger scleroderma.[13] Serological abnormalities are uncommon in children.[13] When the changes are only seen in the skin, localized scleroderma is suspected. Although linear scleroderma is most often a benign disease, it may be exceptionally accompanied by the involvement of multiple organs, mainly the musculoskeletal and neurological systems.[14] [15] In these cases, other differential diagnoses should be considered.

CLS is rare or underestimated, and it only appears with erythematous fibrotic lesions with waxy induration and firmness that is hypo- or hyperpigmented.[4] The erythematous lesion is the most common manifestation of CLS,[4] similar to what was seen in our patient. The patient did not have any remarkable familial history, and his mother had no history of disease or drug use during pregnancy. Involvement of the face, known as “en coup de sabre,” is the most common manifestation of CLS at birth. However, our patient had exclusive limb involvement. Biopsy of the affected skin demonstrated obvious swollen collagen fibers under the thickened dermis, with depots of hyaluronic acid.

Histopathological examinations cannot differentiate between localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis, and the diagnosis and differentiation of these two diseases are based on a comprehensive examination of clinical symptoms. Localized scleroderma is characterized by the absence of sclerodactyly, the Raynaud's phenomenon, and capillary changes in the nail. Furthermore, even when patients with localized scleroderma commonly have nonspecific systemic symptoms as well as the presence of autoantibodies, the typical features of systemic sclerosis visceral involvement are absent.[16]

Diagnosis of congenital morphea is usually made by clinical examination and confirmed by a skin biopsy. However, examination of serum markers, including ANA, RF, antihistone antibody, and double-stranded DNA may help diagnose the disease as well as determine its severity.[6] Additional assessment such as ultrasonography or MRI confirms the atrophy and sclerosis of the skin or subcutaneous tissue in morphea. Laboratory studies for neuromuscular disorders may also be useful. Nerve conduction and EMG studies are complementary to the physical examination and help guide diagnostic studies such as muscle and nerve biopsies, and molecular genetic studies. The important feature pertaining to the diagnosis of this disease is delay caused by the lack of knowledge about the congenital presentation of this disease and its initial morphology being similar to other skin lesions such as port-wine stains and nevus simplex.[4] [17]

All diagnostic information should be interpreted not in isolation but by taking into consideration the relevant historical information, family history, physical examination findings, laboratory data, electrophysiologic findings, pathologic findings, as well as molecular genetic findings if obtained.

The differential diagnoses of CLE are salmon patch (birthmark caused by expansion of capillaries), Texier's disease (pseudosclerodermatous reaction occurring after injection of vitamin K), skin infections such as cellulitis, giant congenital nevus (dark-colored patch of skin present at birth), port-wine stain (discoloration of the skin due to vascular anomaly), stiff skin syndrome (characterized by hardness and thickness of the skin in an infant), café-au-lait spots, and nevus simplex.[4]

Treatment varies depending on the subtype and severity. Topical corticosteroids and phototherapy with ultraviolet light A alone or in combination with MTX are useful for treatment of superficial morphea. For lesions with involvement of the deep tissues, using MTX and corticosteroids is recommended.[18] [19] Other therapeutic options include topical calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate mofetil, biological drugs (e.g., tocilizumab, abatacept, tofacitinib), intravenous IG, surgical procedures, autologous transplants of adipose tissue, injections of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid. However, due to its rarity, it has not been possible to investigate whether these treatments improve outcomes in congenital morphea.

Conclusion

Localized scleroderma in early infancy is a rare disease, but it may be congenital scleroderma and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in infants with erythematous and firm lesion on their body at birth because early treatment can prevent complications in future.

Conflict of Interest

None declared.

Authors' Contributions

E.H.M. performed data gathering and drafting of the manuscript. M.S. performed pathology study and contributed to interpretation of the pathologic findings. V.Z. provided the concept and case of need for the survey, clinical expertise, and interpretation of the clinical data and critical revision of the final draft of manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from the patient's parent.

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Publication History

Received: 08 March 2021

Accepted: 13 November 2021

Article published online:
10 February 2022