Scleromyxedema: successful treatment with thalidomide in two patients.
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.
Amini-Adle
Mona
M
Department of Dermatology, Hôpital de l'Hôtel Dieu, Lyon, France.
Thieulent
Nadege
N
Dalle
Stéphane
S
Balme
Brigitte
B
Thomas
Luc
L
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
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide