[Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma complicating systemic scleroderma under long-term treatment with factor XIII]

A 52-year old woman with systemic scleroderma had been treated since 1978 with factor XIII. The skin lesions had improved, and respiratory lesions had become stabilized. In 1984, she developed a bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma which was treated by surgery. The authors emphasize that factor XIII is well tolerated and has beneficial effects on the skin and probably also on the lungs, without tachyphylaxis; however, the possibility of a bronchioloalveolar carcinoma occurring cannot be ruled out.