Morphea, also referred to as localized cutaneous scleroderma, encompasses a heterogeneous group of inflammatory and fibrosing skin disorders characterized by variable depth of tissue involvement and different clinical course. The diagnostic delay remains common due to insidious onset, broad differential diagnosis, and lack of validated biomarkers of disease activity. Clinical assessment relies therefore on expert evaluation, supported by clinical scoring systems and selected imaging techniques. Therapeutic strategies depend on disease subtype, activity, depth, and risk of irreversible damage, ranging from topical agents for limited superficial forms to systemic immunosuppression for deep, linear, generalized, and pansclerotic variants. Methotrexate combined with systemic corticosteroids represents the current first-line systemic therapy, while mycophenolate mofetil and biologics or targeted synthetic agents are increasingly used in refractory disease. This review provides a comprehensive and updated overview of the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, diagnostic approach, and management of morphea across age groups, highlighting recent therapeutic advances, and unmet clinical needs.
A practical clinical approach to the diagnosis and management of morphea (localized scleroderma)
Martini G.
2026-01-01
Abstract
Morphea, also referred to as localized cutaneous scleroderma, encompasses a heterogeneous group of inflammatory and fibrosing skin disorders characterized by variable depth of tissue involvement and different clinical course. The diagnostic delay remains common due to insidious onset, broad differential diagnosis, and lack of validated biomarkers of disease activity. Clinical assessment relies therefore on expert evaluation, supported by clinical scoring systems and selected imaging techniques. Therapeutic strategies depend on disease subtype, activity, depth, and risk of irreversible damage, ranging from topical agents for limited superficial forms to systemic immunosuppression for deep, linear, generalized, and pansclerotic variants. Methotrexate combined with systemic corticosteroids represents the current first-line systemic therapy, while mycophenolate mofetil and biologics or targeted synthetic agents are increasingly used in refractory disease. This review provides a comprehensive and updated overview of the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, diagnostic approach, and management of morphea across age groups, highlighting recent therapeutic advances, and unmet clinical needs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
