Localized scleroderma: clinical spectrum and therapeutic update.

Abstract: Scleroderma is a rare connective tissue disease that is manifested by cutaneous sclerosis and variablesystemic involvement. Two categories of scleroderma are known: systemic sclerosis, characterized by cutaneoussclerosis and visceral involvement, and localized scleroderma or morphea which classically presents benign andself-limited evolution and is confined to the skin and/or underlying tissues. Localized scleroderma is a rare dis-ease of unknown etiology. Recent studies show that the localized form may affect internal organs and have vari-able morbidity. Treatment should be started very early, before complications occur due to the high morbidity oflocalized scleroderma. In this review, we report the most important aspects and particularities in the treatmentof patients diagnosed with localized scleroderma. Keywords: Autoimmune diseases; Collagen diseases; Immune System Diseases; Epidemiology; Localized sclero-derma; Signs and symptoms. Received on 24.06.2 013.Approved by the Advisory Board and accepted for publication on 11.10.2013. * Study conducted at the Dermatology Department of the Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo (HCFMUSP) – Sao Paulo (SP), Brazil.Conflict of interest: NoneFinancial Support: CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), No.: 141992/2011-5.