title: Scleromyxedema: successful treatment with thalidomide in two patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scleromyxedema is an unusual skin disease characterized by mucinous infiltration of the skin. There is no satisfactory treatment for this disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report 2 cases of scleromyxedema, both associated with an IgG-lambda paraprotein. Treatment with thalidomide was started and great improvement of the lesion was noted as shown by a quality of life questionnaire similar to those used in rheumatoid arthritis. TNF-alpha value was elevated in both cases during this treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We hypothesize that the efficiency of thalidomide could be mediated by its costimulatory effect on T cytotoxic lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital de l'Hôtel Dieu, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini-Adle
authors.forename: Nadege
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thieulent
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalle
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balme
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D053718:Scleromyxedema / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide