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Observation
January 16, 2019

A Case of Pansclerotic Morphea Treated With Tocilizumab

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 2Department of Pediatrics (Rheumatology), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 3Department of Dermatology and Pediatrics (Pediatric Dermatology), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
JAMA Dermatol. 2019;155(3):388-389. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.5040

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is an inflammatory sclerosing skin disorder. There are multiple subtypes including plaque, linear, generalized, pansclerotic, and mixed. Pansclerotic morphea is extremely rare and has a severe, progressive phenotype characterized by circumferential involvement of the limbs and other body areas affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and bone. It is often recalcitrant to treatment. We present a case of pansclerotic morphea responding rapidly to the anti–interleukin (IL)-6 receptor monoclonal antibody tocilizumab after progression during traditional immunosuppressive therapies.

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