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Abstract Number: 748

Scleromyxedema Phenotype Pre- and Post-Treatment with Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Christopher A. Mecoli1, Andrea Fava2, Francesco Boin3 and Laura K. Hummers4, 1Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 2Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 3Rheumatology, University California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 4Medical and Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Meeting: 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 18, 2017

Keywords: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and scleroderma-like conditions

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Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 5, 2017

Title: Systemic Sclerosis, Fibrosing Syndromes and Raynaud's – Clinical Aspects and Therapeutics Poster I

Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Scleromyxedema is a rare scleroderma mimic that often responds to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG). The clinical and biochemical changes in response to treatment have not been well-characterized.

Methods: 15 patients with scleromyxedema were recruited for the study. Clinical information and blood samples were obtained immediately before and again 2-3 weeks after receiving IVIG therapy. Clinical information included the modified modified Rodnan Skin Score (MMRSS) which includes assessing the patients’ back and ears, and visual analog scales to assess patients’ pain, itch, flexibility, and softness of their skin. In addition, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and percent body surface area involved were recorded.

Results: Demographic data and disease characteristics can be found in Table 1. Twelve of the 15 patients were receiving maintenance IVIG, and three were treatment-naïve. All patients except for one had a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), 12 of which were IgG lambda, and two were IgG kappa.

Post-treatment, the average MMRSS decreased from 13.6 to 10.3 (p=0.003). Skin flexibility, skin softening and skin global all improved as assessed using visual analog scales, and were statistically significant (Table 2). Correlation studies demonstrated that the MMRSS correlated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) R=0.47, p=0.009). The three treatment-naïve patients had a larger improvement (mean MMRSS 20 ± 5.1 to 13.3 ± 4.7 compared to patients receiving maintenance IVIG, 11.9 ± 10 to 9.5 ± 8).

The two patients with a history of neurologic complications relating to scleromyxedema had a markedly lower MMRSS of 1 ± 0.8 compared to patients without neurologic complications, 13.6 ± 8.3, p=0.006. Patients with lambda IgG MGUS had a higher MMRSS compared to those with kappa IgG or no MGUS, 13.3 ± 9.8 compared to 7.8 ± 5.2, p=0.22.

Conclusion: Patients with scleromyxedema have clinical improvement to IVIG in several domains, and the extent of skin involvement correlates with their HAQ-DI. Patients with a history of neurologic complications of scleromyxedema or non-IgG lambda MGUS have lower skin scores.

Demographic Data

N (%)

Female sex

12 (80)

Age (mean ± SD)

53 ± 11

Caucasian

14 (93)

Neurologic involvement

2 (13)

IgG MGUS

14 (93)

Lambda

12

Kappa

2

Treatment naïve

3 (20)

Table 1

Clinical Parameters

Pre-IVIG

Post-IVIG

P-value

(mean)

(mean)

Physician Global Assessment

1.40

1.10

0.100

Body Surface Area (%)

36.20

25.40

0.090

MMRSS (0-60)

13.60

10.30

0.003

Skin scale pain (0-100)

17.70

13.70

0.250

Skin scale itch (0-100)

2.10

2.10

1.000

Skin scale flexibility (0-100), 0=Best

54.00

32.00

0.013

Skin scale softening (0-100), 0=Best

46.00

26.00

0.022

Skin scale global (0-100)

45.00

27.00

0.029

HAQ-DI

0.62

0.54

0.400

Table 2


Disclosure: C. A. Mecoli, None; A. Fava, None; F. Boin, None; L. K. Hummers, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Mecoli CA, Fava A, Boin F, Hummers LK. Scleromyxedema Phenotype Pre- and Post-Treatment with Intravenous Immunoglobulin [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017; 69 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/scleromyxedema-phenotype-pre-and-post-treatment-with-intravenous-immunoglobulin/. Accessed .
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