Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Morphea (Localized Scleroderma) in Adults: a Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics and prognosis of morphea in Thai adult patients. 
Methods: The medical records of 81 morphea adult patients who visited Siriraj Hospital, Thailand, between 2006 and 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. The demographics, clinical features, treatments and outcomes were analyzed. Clinical improvement was categorized as excellent (>80%), partial (1%–80%), and no response.
Results: Circumscribed morphea was the most common subtype (34, 42%) of the 81 patients, followed by linear morphea (21, 26%), generalized morphea (14, 17%), en coup de sabre (11, 14%) and Parry–Romberg syndrome (1, 1%). Systemic treatment and ultraviolet A (UVA)1 phototherapy had satisfactory outcomes in 83% and 79%
of cases, respectively, providing a partial to excellent response. For overall remission, one year after the treatment, 30% of patients achieved a partial to excellent response. After 2 years, this proportion rose to 50%. The median time to clinical response was 24 months.
Conclusion: Morphea is a difficult-to-treat dermatosis, with the majority of the patients having a partial clinical response and a high recurrent rate. Combination of treatment might be a worthy option.