Asymmetric scleroderma in a CVA patient.

We describe a systemic sclerosis and cerebral vascular accident case in which the cutaneous manifestation and the distal acroosteolysis occurred in an asymmetrical way in the non-paretic limb. The subsequent sclerodermic alterations and the acroosteolysis acquired an asymmetric pattern, sparing the patient's hemiparetic side. Although a number of definitions of this protective effect may be found in other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout, we found in the literature only one previous case describing the protective effect of the hemiplegia in scleroderma.