Exploring the Impact of Occupational Silica Exposure Progressing to Systemic Sclerosis: A Report on the Development of Silica-Induced Systemic Sclerosis Cases

Cureus. 2024 Feb 21;16(2):e54595. doi: 10.7759/cureus.54595. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Erasmus syndrome is an uncommon disease brought on by exposure to silica and later manifests as systemic sclerosis (SSc) with or without silicosis. The body of literature on Erasmus syndrome is scarce. Here, we report two cases of male patients presenting with SSc after silica exposure. One of the patients had worked in the steel industry, and another had worked in the sculpture manufacturing for a decade before the presentation. It is imperative to raise awareness of this uncommon illness because avoiding further exposure remains the mainstay of management. Our case reports reemphasize the importance of occupational history in all patients of SSc.

Keywords: erasmus syndrome; raynaud’s phenomena; sclerodactyly; silicosis; systemic sclerosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports