A case of systemic scleroderma complicating pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

The patient was a 7-year-old girl. At the age of 6, deposits of pigment had appeared on the skin of her face and limbs, the skin had become sclerosed, and she had developed dyspnea on exertion. Her previous physician had hospitalized her. She was diagnosed as systemic scleroderma that accompanied pulmonary hypertension by her symptoms and laboratory findings. She was referred to our hospital at 7 years of age, and she was hospitalized. At that time, the entire skin showed deposition of brown pigment, the skin of the limbs was sclerotic. And the face was mask-like, flexion of the joints of the fingers and knees was limited, and the fingertips were ulcerated. Raynaud's phenomenon was present. She was positive for antinuclear antibodies, and negative for other autoantibodies. Echocardiography revealed pulmonary hypertension. After admission, steroid pulse therapy and cyclophosphamide (CY) pulse therapy were initiated, and for aftercare, 15 mg/day of prednisolone (PSL) and mizolibin (MZB) were administered orally. After several months, the sclerosis of the skin improved and the restriction of limb flexion was almost eliminated. The pulmonary hypertension advanced temporarily (maximum: 70 mmHg), but after oral administration of a PGI2 preparation and low-flow supplemental oxygen therapy and the initiation of anticoagulant therapy, the systolic pressure of the pulmonary artery improved to 34 mmHg. The CY pulse therapy was terminated after two years, and internal use of PSL and MZB was continued. The patient's condition is now stable. This case was treated from an early stage with steroid pulse therapy and CY pulse therapy, accompanied with oral administration of a PGI2 preparation for the pulmonary hypertension. The dermal symptoms improved, and it was possible to maintain a state of remission.