{
  "abstract": "Introduction Morphea, or localized scleroderma, is a rare skin disorder characterized by local inflammation and collagen deposition that leads to thickening of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Morphea is considered part of the autoimmune disease spectrum and may coexist with other autoimmune conditions. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the features, serological data and comorbidities of patients with morphea followed up by our center.Material and Methods A retrospective analysis of all patients with morphea followed-up by the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Larissa, Greece was performed. Demographics and disease related data, clinical information and laboratory data including autoantibody profile and biopsy were recorded.Results A total of 27 patients (females 85.2%) were included in the study. The mean age on disease onset was 48.1 ± 18.2 years, and the mean follow up was 5.5 ± 4.8 years. Most patients (26/27, 96.3%) had circumscribed (plaques) morphea and one patient had linear morphea and plaques were present in trunk (65.4%) and extremities (61.5%). One third of our patients (33.3%) had a coexisting autoimmune disease (66.7% with Hashimoto thyroiditis, and 11.1% each with Crohn’s disease, Sjögren’s disease, erythema nodosum or type 1 diabetes). Other comorbidities, present in 81.5% of patients, included hypertension (45.5%), diabetes type 2 (9.1%), and osteoporosis (9.1%). There was a history of cancer (11.1%), including melanoma, colon cancer and thyroid cancer. Other clinical features included arthralgias (25.9%), gastrointestinal (GI) involvement (22.2%), Raynaud’s phenomenon (7.4%), and telangiectasias (3.7%) whereas no patient had cardiac involvement, lung involvement, calcinosis, or ulcers, and none fulfilled criteria for systemic sclerosis. A skin biopsy was performed in 77.7% of patients confirming the diagnosis. ANA positivity was detected in 11/27 (40.7%) anti-Scl70 in 1/27(6.25%) patients, but no ACA positivity was detected. Treatment included mainly topical tacrolimus or steroids (in 65.4% of patients) whereas systemic agents, such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, steroids and cyclosporine (in 38.6% of patients), were reserved for extensive disease.Conclusions This is the first study to assess morphea features in Greece and our findings align with international data. The high frequency of autoimmune comorbidity underscores the shared autoimmune background of morphea. Malignancies presented in 11.1% of patients highlighting the need for careful long-term follow-up. Extracutaneous manifestations were limited to GI symptoms and Raynaud’s. While ANA positivity was frequent, a specific autoantigen was not identified. Treatment followed current practices with topical agents for most patients and systemic immunosuppression for extensive disease.Abstract P.217 Figure 1",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Arriana Gkouvi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Nektarios Marios Liapis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Ioannis Alexiou"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Christina Katsiari"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Lazaros Sakkas"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Dimitrios Bogdanos"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece"
      ],
      "name": "Theodora Simopoulou"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P.217 Features of patients with morphea: a single center 15-year experience",
  "uid": "5076bf16-b12c-545b-a40b-20fda51d532f"
}