[Incapacitating pansclerotic morphea in childhood]

An 8-year old boy with generalized morphea involving all levels of the skin and soft tissues with disabling course, policlonal elevation of gammaglobulins and peripheral eosinophilia is examined. Neither Raynaud's disease nor sings of systemic scleroderma were present. The biopsy specimen showed thickening and hyalinization of collagenous tissue with moderate lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration, mainly in the subcutaneous region and fascia. A diagnosis of Disabling Panscleroti morphea of children (Díaz-Pérez et al., 1980) was done. With this case and others reported in the literature, the authors compare this peculiar picture with the usual type of morphea, systemic scleroderma and eosinophilic fasciitis.