title: Drug-induced morphea: report of a case induced by balicatib and review of the literature.
abstract: Drug-induced scleroderma has been rarely reported, mostly with the features of diffuse scleroderma or acrosclerosis, and exceptionally with the characteristics of morphea. We report the case of an adult white woman, enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentric trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the cathepsin K inhibitor balicatib for osteoporosis. Typical morphea lesions developed on the patient's trunk 9 months after the beginning of therapy. Lesions completely resolved after drug withdrawal and a single brief course of systemic steroids. No recurrence occurred in a 2-year follow-up. Fifteen cases of drug-induced morphea could be retrieved from the literature. Drug withdrawal determined complete remission in only a few patients. Different drug classes have been implicated. Some of these, including balicatib, alter directly connective tissue metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peroni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colato
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girolomoni
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001549:Benzamides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056657:Cathepsin K; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; C529767:balicatib; D002403:Cathepsins; C534130:CTSK protein, human; D056657:Cathepsin K