BACKGROUND: Morphea is an autoimmune inflammatory sclerosing disorder that may cause permanent functional disability and disfigurement. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the clinical features of morphea in a large pediatric cohort. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 136 pediatric patients with morphea from one center, 1989 to 2006. RESULTS: Most children showed linear morphea, with a disproportionately high number of Caucasian and female patients. Two patients with rapidly progressing generalized or extensive linear morphea and arthralgias developed restrictive pulmonary disease. Initial oral corticosteroid treatment and long-term methotrexate administration stabilized and/or led to disease improvement in most patients with aggressive disease. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective analysis, relatively small sample size, and risk of a selected referral population to the single site are limitations. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest an increased prevalence of morphea in Caucasian girls, and support methotrexate as treatment for problematic forms. Visceral manifestations rarely occur; the presence of progressive problematic cutaneous disease and arthralgias should trigger closer patient monitoring.
BACKGROUND: Morphea is an autoimmune inflammatory sclerosing disorder that may cause permanent functional disability and disfigurement. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the clinical features of morphea in a large pediatric cohort. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 136 pediatric patients with morphea from one center, 1989 to 2006. RESULTS: Most children showed linear morphea, with a disproportionately high number of Caucasian and female patients. Two patients with rapidly progressing generalized or extensive linear morphea and arthralgias developed restrictive pulmonary disease. Initial oral corticosteroid treatment and long-term methotrexate administration stabilized and/or led to disease improvement in most patients with aggressive disease. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective analysis, relatively small sample size, and risk of a selected referral population to the single site are limitations. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest an increased prevalence of morphea in Caucasian girls, and support methotrexate as treatment for problematic forms. Visceral manifestations rarely occur; the presence of progressive problematic cutaneous disease and arthralgias should trigger closer patient monitoring.
Authors: Jillian F Rork; Jennifer T Huang; Leslie B Gordon; Monica Kleinman; Mark W Kieran; Marilyn G Liang Journal: Pediatr Dermatol Date: 2014-01-24 Impact factor: 1.588
Authors: Tamás Constantin; Ivan Foeldvari; Clare E Pain; Annamária Pálinkás; Peter Höger; Monika Moll; Dana Nemkova; Lisa Weibel; Melinda Laczkovszki; Philip Clements; Kathryn S Torok Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2018-05-04 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Anagha Bangalore Kumar; Elizabeth K Blixt; Lisa A Drage; Rokea A El-Azhary; David A Wetter Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2019-01-29 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Kathryn S Torok; Katherine Kurzinski; Christina Kelsey; Jonathan Yabes; Kelsey Magee; Abbe N Vallejo; Thomas Medsger; Carol A Feghali-Bostwick Journal: Semin Arthritis Rheum Date: 2015-06-17 Impact factor: 5.532