Scleromyxedema in a 21 year old female patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Scleromyxedema is a rare, para-neoplastic, chronic, progressive condition of the Lichen myxedematosus (LM) family. The clinical picture consists of generalized confluent papular eruptions with possible systemic manifestations, which may be fatal as it still constitutes a therapeutic dilemma. Histologically, it is characterized by dermal mucin deposition, fibroblast proliferation with fibrosis, with monoclonal gammopathy in the absence of thyroid disease. Some atypical forms of the disease were reported in the literature, but none were reported in acute leukemia. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a case of a 21 years old female patient, known case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who developed numerous hyper-pigmented erythematous papules and plaques, mainly over her thighs, lower abdomen, and sub-mammary flexures. Histopathology of skin lesions confirmed the diagnosis of atypical scleromyxedema. Her symptoms significantly improved with the use of high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). CONCLUSIONS: Despite that scleromyxedema is associated with many hematologic disorders, it is very rarely associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and a high index of suspicion is needed for diagnosis. IVIG remains a reasonable management of such a disabling disease.

Scleromyxedema.

Scleromyxedema is a rare, cutaneous deposition disorder from the group of mucinoses, which can affect multiple organs and is virtually always associated with a monoclonal gammopathy. Cutaneous manifestations are usually generalized, 2 to 3 mm sized, dome-shaped or flat-topped, waxy, slightly red to skin-colored papules and sclerodermoid indurations. Neurological, rheumatological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory tract, renal and ophthalmologic manifestations can occur, with decreasing frequency. A serious and potentially lethal complication is the dermato-neuro syndrome which manifests with flu-like prodromes followed by fever, convulsions and coma. Untreated, scleromyxedema usually takes an unpredictable and potentially lethal progressive disease course over several years. According to a widely acknowledged classification by Rongioletti a diagnosis of scleromyxedema can be rendered when (1) generalized, papular and sclerodermoid eruption, (2) a histological triad of mucin deposition, fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis, and (3) monoclonal gammopathy are present, and (4) thyroid disease is absent. Apart from the classic microscopic triad, an interstitial granuloma annulare like pattern was also described. The pathogenesis of scleromyxedema is unknown. A potential role for various, as yet unknown serum factors has been discussed. An unequivocal causal relationship between paraproteinemia and disease manifestations could not be established to date. High dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are the first-line treatment of choice according to the most recent European guidelines.

Scleromyxedema with multiple systemic involvement: Successful treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin.

Scleromyxedema is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by a generalized lichenoid eruption and sclerodermoid induration with histologic features of dermal mucin deposition. A 44-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of generalized progressive skin thickening and sclerosis. He had diffuse skin-colored to erythematous firm papules coalescing into indurated plaques over his whole body. He had been diagnosed with scleromyxedema from a skin biopsy with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) at another tertiary hospital 3 years earlier. He had been treated with systemic corticosteroids and methotrexate, but his systemic symptoms (dyspnea, dysphagia, skin swelling, and induration) had worsened over the past year, so he visited our clinic seeking further evaluation and management. The patient received high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy once a month in combination with systemic corticosteroids. After three courses of IVIG, his cutaneous symptoms and dyspnea had improved dramatically. Herein we report a case of scleromyxedema with systemic involvement with significant improvement following IVIG therapy.

Severe but reversible pulmonary hypertension in scleromyxedema and multiple myeloma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Scleromyxedema is a progressive, systemic connective tissue disorder characterized by fibro-mucous skin lesions and increased serum monoclonal immunoglobulin levels. Pulmonary involvement occurs in a subset of patients, though the overall prevalence of pulmonary lesions in scleromyxedema is unknown. Since pulmonary hypertension presumably occurs in these patients due to disease progression and development of additional conditions, treatment of the underlying plasma cell dyscrasia and connective tissue disorder may improve pulmonary hypertension symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: An elderly patient with scleromyxedema developed pulmonary hypertension refractory to vasodilator and diuretic therapy and subsequently multiple myeloma that responded to a combination therapy of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of the underlying disease(s) that contributed to pulmonary hypertension development with anti-neoplastic agents like bortezomib may improve cardiopulmonary symptoms secondary to reducing abnormal blood cell counts and paraprotein levels.

An unusual presentation of scleromyxedema as inflammatory myopathy.

Scleromyxedema is a rare cutaneous mucinosis with frequent extracutaneous manifestations. Myopathy in scleromyxedema is a poorly recognized syndrome among neurologists and can mimic idiopathic and connective tissue disease-associated inflammatory myopathy. Diagnosis is suspected by the characterization of the skin lesions and clinched by skin and muscle biopsies. Here, we report a patient with scleromyxedema and myopathy with the characteristic histopathological feature of mucin deposition in skin biopsy. Her muscle biopsy showed a picture consistent with scleromyxedema myopathy with vacuolar and inflammatory changes. The association with paraproteinemia, propensity to life-threatening central nervous system disease and good response to intravenous immunoglobulin necessitate the accurate diagnosis of this condition.

Atypical discrete papular lichen myxedematosus associated with monoclonal gammopathy: report of four cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Discrete papular lichen myxedematosus (DPLM) is a rare form of localized lichen myxedematosus that presents with skin involvement only and without systemic involvement. OBJECT: To describe our experience with atypical cases of DPLM associated with monoclonal gammopathy. METHODS: Data were collected from patients with clinicopathological evidence of DPLM associated with monoclonal gammopathy who presented to the Department of Dermatology of two tertiary university-affiliated medical centres from 2000 to 2015 and were followed prospectively. RESULTS: The sample included four patients (three males) with a mean age of 58 years. No clinicopathological differences from typical cases of DPLM were observed, except for the presence of monoclonal gammopathy. The patients were followed up for a mean of 34 months (6-72 months) and no progression to scleromyxedema, multiple myeloma or systemic involvement was observed. No therapy was applied, except for topical tacrolimus or steroids, and the eruptions remained stable. CONCLUSION: Our experience indicates an excellent prognosis of DPLM even for atypical cases in spite of the presence of monoclonal gammopathy.

Periocular Scleromyxedema.

Scleromyxedema is characterized by cutaneous mucinosis and rarely presents to oculoplastic surgeons with bilateral upper and lower eyelid swelling. The authors present 2 case reports with a review of the literature and discuss the ophthalmic manifestations of scleromyxedema and the management of these cases. Both patients were in their early 50s and were fit and well prior to the presentation. They both presented with eyelid swelling and underlying nodularity of the subcutaneous tissue. The skin biopsy confirmed cutaneous manifestations of scleromyxedema. The systemic manifestations responded to intravenous and oral steroids and intravenous infusions of immunoglobulin. The ophthalmic manifestations were managed conservatively. Scleromyxedema is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by cutaneous mucinosis, extracutaneous manifestations, and monoclonal gammopathy. It rarely affects the eyelids and cornea. The authors would like to present 2 cases of periocular scleromyxedema.

Scleromyxedema.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To synthesize the current known data on pathogenesis and treatment of scleromyxedema. This review will also highlight the clinical presentation, systemic features and outcomes and distinguishing features between scleromyxedema and scleroderma, as a common mimic. RECENT FINDINGS: Most recent publications have focused on describing treatment responses with novel therapies, with the majority of cases reporting success with intravenous immunoglobulin. However, other therapies suggest promise as well in case reports, including bortezomib, thalidomide and stem cell transplantation. There is little information on pathogenesis; however, focus has been on the relationship between the mucin deposition and the monoclonal immunoglobulins that are seen in almost all patients with scleromyxedema. SUMMARY: Scleromyxedema is a rare mucinous deposition disorder that shares clinical features with scleroderma but has important distinguishing features in clinical presentation and major organ complications that should be recognized. Patients typically respond well to therapy as highlighted in several larger series, but poor outcomes are reported in a few cases.