title: Fractional photothermolysis treatment of digital cutis laxa reverses hand disability.
abstract: In this case study, we present a safe and novel treatment for a patient with soft tissue hand disability caused by severe and chronic lupus and cutis laxa (CL). This patient was a woman in her 50s with a 20-year history of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and multiple sclerosis who developed hand disability because of the drastic loss of firmness in her soft tissue, extending from the dermis down to the ligaments. The likely cause was CL with SLE synovitis, exacerbated by corticosteroid tapering. Fractional photothermolysis (FP) LASER (Fraxel DUAL 1550/1927; Solta Medical) therapy profoundly alleviated her joint locking in addition to improving the firmness of the overlying skin to reverse her hand disability. This case illustrates a novel approach to CL hand treatment and the profound impact the treatment had on the patient's disabled hand. FP therapy is quick and safe, and its medical application to skin and joints should be further explored.
authors: David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors: Jack J
authors: JJ
authors: Tian
authors: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors: Wendy C
authors: WC
authors: Hsiao
authors: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of California in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Worswick
mesh_terms: D003483:Cutis Laxa / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: connective tissue disorders; cutis laxa; laser