Acrosclerosis. Presented by Dr. Charles Sherter.
M. G., a 39-year-old white woman, states that for the past six years her fingers would become "tender, swollen, and purplish" if she handled cold wave solutions in her work as a beauty parlor operator but would clear in a few days if these items were avoided. However, in January, 1953, she noticed definite stiffness of the fingers, associated with tingling and numbness of the fingertips. This continued until July, 1953, when brown discolorations appeared about the elbows, knees, arms, thighs, buttocks, and ankle areas with definite stiffness in the above-mentioned joints and also in the skin. She also complained of some difficulty in swallowing and shortness of breath. When she was first seen in November, 1953, physical examination revealed a well-developed, well-nourished woman with a suggestion of "ironed-out" facies. General medical examination revealed no significant abnormalities. The skin of the fingers is