Successful Treatment of Morphea with Narrowband UVB (310-315 nm)-Case Report

Case Report

Austin J Dermatolog. 2014;1(4): 1018.

Successful Treatment of Morphea with Narrowband UVB (310-315 nm)-Case Report

Anca Chiriac1*, Piotr Brzezinski2, Tudor Pinteala4, Anca E Chiriac4, Caius Solovan3 and Liliana Foia4

1Department of Dermatology, University Apollonia, Iasi-Romania

2Department of Dermatology, 6th Military Support Unit, Poland

3University of Medicine and Pharmacy "V Babes" Timisoara-Romania

4University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr T Popa" Iasi, Romania

*Corresponding author: Anca Chiriac MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, University Apollonia, Iasi-Romania

Received: July 28, 2014; Accepted: August 22, 2014; Published: August 26, 2014

Abstract

Morphea is very difficult to treat because of it being recalcitrant to variable therapeutical attempts. A 64 year-old woman, diagnosed on clinical and histological findings with localized morphea, was treated with narrowband UVB and emollients with favorable outcome. Objectively, post-treatment, the plaque was less indurated, softer to palpation, and less hyperpigmented; skin thickness was measured by using high-frequency ultrasound technique(18 MHz) proving a decreased of dermal thickness from 0.4cm to 0.25 cm within 4 months of therapy. Therefore, this treatment procedure could be an option in managing morphea.

Case Presentation

A 64 year-old Caucasian woman was diagnosed 6 months ago with localized scleroderma en plaque (morphea) on the right side of abdominal wall. Clinical examinations observed a violaceous round-oval sclerotic plaque over the right side of abdominal wall; the plaque proved to be indurated on palpation (Figure 1). A skin biopsy revealed interstitial inflammation and homogenization of collagen bundles in the dermis and subcutis.