Letter: Methotrexate for localized morphea with severe pain: a case report.

Abstract

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is characterized by idiopathic fibrosis of the skin and adjacent structures. Patients with morphea classically present with skin lesions without any associated symptoms and the lesions usually regress spontaneously over time. We describe a patient with morphea who presented with debilitating pain in her skin plaque. She failed topical therapy and required systemic methotrexate to control her disease. We titrated the methotrexate dose with the goal of pain relief. Although unusual, pain associated with morphea can be debilitating. Physicians should assess for pain in patients with morphea and prescribe treatments accordingly. We propose using pain, when present, in addition to physical examination as a guide for titrating morphea therapy.

• Authors: Hana Jeon, Christina Kim
• Journal: Dermatology online journal (Dermatol Online J) Vol. 17 Issue 12 Pg. 12 (Dec 15 2011) ISSN: 1087-2108 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22233748 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Letter)

Chemical References

• Dermatologic Agents
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Dermatologic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Methotrexate (administration & dosage)
• Pain (drug therapy)
• Scleroderma, Localized (drug therapy, pathology)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult