Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis with gangrene: an autopsy case

Mod Rheumatol Case Rep. 2020 Jul;4(2):243-247. doi: 10.1080/24725625.2019.1702495. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Abstract

We describe an autopsy case of a 75-year-old female with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc) and gangrene due to macrovascular involvement. She was diagnosed with lcSSc complicated with pulmonary arterial hypertension and digital ulcers 9 years before admission. She had recurrent and refractory lower limb ulcers (LLUs), and died because of sepsis caused by gangrene infection. Autopsy findings revealed severely thickened arterial walls of the visceral organs, consistent with vascular involvement of SSc. Systemic vascular involvement in lcSSc may progress in patients with LLUs who harbour several risk factors for vascular involvement.

Keywords: Systemic sclerosis; autopsy; gangrene; lcSSc; lower limbs ulcers.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autopsy*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Gangrene / diagnosis*
  • Gangrene / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Scleroderma, Limited / complications*
  • Scleroderma, Limited / diagnosis*