Necrotizing fasciitis in a patient with overlap syndrome of systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus

Rheumatol Int. 2011 Jul;31(7):937-9. doi: 10.1007/s00296-009-1232-9. Epub 2009 Nov 5.

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an uncommon destructive disease and fatal infection of the subcutaneous tissue. The literature includes a limited number of NF cases in rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a 40-year-old patient who had complicated with NF during treatment with corticosteroid and azathioprine for overlap syndrome of systemic sclerosis and SLE. She underwent urgent surgical debridement and internal drainage with antibiotics and had complete recovery from NF. To our knowledge, this is the first case of NF developed in a patient of overlap syndrome with diffuse type of systemic sclerosis and SLE and suggests that NF can be a very rare cutaneous manifestation of this disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Debridement / methods
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / complications
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / etiology*
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / complications*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Suction / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents