Abstract
Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune condition with abnormal proliferation in connective tissue proliferation. Corneal melt is caused by the breakdown of corneal collagen which may be caused by various etiologies including inflammatory, infectious, and trauma that have been linked to corneal melt. Corneal melt is rarely caused by autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, relapsing polychondritis, and systemic sclerosis. We present an 83-year-old female Hispanic patient with a history of peripheral vascular disease who presented with corneal melt. The patient’s clinical history as well as labs, specifically anti-centromere antibody were consistent with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis. The patient was started on treatment with Rituximab for the management of corneal melt associated with systemic sclerosis, which resulted in improvement of the corneal melt as well as symptoms of systemic sclerosis. Careful attention needs to be placed on the etiology of the corneal melt in order to prevent disease progression. The key to treatment of corneal melt is the treatment of the underlying cause. Appropriate treatment and identification of corneal melt are paramount to the prevention of permanent visual loss.
Published on: June 02, 2021
doi: 10.17756/micr.2021-067
Citation: Malaty S, Kim SY, Herrmann M, Urban K. 2021. Limited Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis Presenting with Corneal Melt: A Complication of Uncontrolled Disease. J Med Imaging Case Rep 5(1): 25-27.
Downloads