[Idiopathic and sclerodermic facial hemiatrophy with generalized myopathy. Clinical, electromyographic and histologic examinations of six patients].

Six patients with facial hemiatrophy (H.f) were thoroughly examined by clinical and laboratory investigations. Two were found to have idiopathic and four facial hemiatrophy due to different types of localized scleroderma. In all cases a generalized myopathy was present, demonstrated by electromyographical, histological, and biochemical means. In none of these cases a hereditary or neurological cause for the facial hemiatrophy was found. However, in two cases autoantibodies against nuclei and muscle were repeatedly obtained. No prolongation of sensory or pain chronaxy occurred in either the patients with sclerodermal or idiopathic facial hemiatrophy. These observations suggest that facial hemiatrophy can originate (a) in a localized scleroderma in the involved part of the face, (b) in an ipsilateral "sclérodermie en coup de sabre", or (c) in the coexistence of both. There is a close pathological and physiological correlation between idiopathic and sclerodermal facial hemiatrophy. In both forms of facial hemiatrophy the disease involves skeletal muscle tissue systematically. This myopathy is similar to that of progressive scleroderma, far exceeding the limited muscular involvement of localized scleroderma. Sclerodermal facial hemiatrophy can be associated with autoimmune phenomena.