A Case of Scleredema Diabeticorum: Could Pentoxifylline Be a Therapeutic Option?

Abstract

Background: Scleredema diabeticorum is a dermatosis characterized by hardening of skin over the upper back. It is commonly seen in poor-controlled diabetic patients. Therapeutic options are limited. Psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy PUVA , methotrexate, and topical steroids have been used with some success. Pentoxifylline is a xanthine derivative used mainly in peripheral vascular diseases. It also has antifibrotic effects due to its collagen synthesis inhibition action. Case Presentation: In this paper, a trial of intralesional pentoxifylline treatment and magnetic resonance images of a male patient with scleredema diabeticorum are presented. Some subjective symptoms of the patient improved after this treatment, but, the thickness of the lesion did not change. Conclusion: Pentoxifylline, probably via the oral route, could still be thought in such patients unresponsive to conventional approaches due to its antifibrotic activity and high safety profile.