Linear Scleroderma in a 40 year-old Woman

Presented by Hamish McDougall
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

The patient is a 37 year old woman with a four year history of a slowly progressively asymptomatic area of induration on the posterior aspect of the left thigh (photo).  A biopsy showed thickened collagen bundles in the reticular dermis and a sparse superficial and deep lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate consistent with morphea.

Strangely, her father-in-law is seriously ill with systemic sclerosis.  He lives far from the patient and her husband.  At this time, we have discovered no common exposures the patient and her father-in-law have.  The patient lives in an endemic area for Lyme Disease and serological testing will be offered.

Questions:
Is there any value in obtaining serologies, other than Lyme studies, on this woman?
What treatment might be of value? 
Do you have alternate diagnoses?

References:
1. Localized Scleroderma Review Article (Like a chapter in a text book)

2. Morphea Sculpted in Silica: A Case Report of Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis in a Woman with Long-Time Exposure to Silica Dust.

Pedro Gomes J, Shoenfeld Y.  Free Full Text.

3.  "Borrelia-associated early-onset morphea": a particular type of scleroderma in childhood and adolescence with high titer antinuclear antibodies? Results of a cohort analysis and presentation of three cases.

Prinz JC, et. al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Feb;60(2):248-55. CONCLUSION:B burgdorferi infection may be relevant for the induction of a distinct autoimmune type of scleroderma; it may be called "Borrelia-associated early onset morphea" and is characterized by the combination of disease onset at younger age, infection with B burgdorferi, and evident autoimmune phenomena as reflected by high-titer antinuclear antibodies. As exemplified by the case reports, it may take a particularly severe course and require treatment of both infection and skin inflammation.