<\/span><\/h2>\nThe morpho (American spelling, morphea) is characterized by an area of inflammation<\/span> and fibrosis<\/span> (thickening and hardening) of the skin due to increased collagen<\/span> statement<\/span>. Also known as located<\/span> scleroderma<\/span>. The term scleroderma<\/em> covers various types of morph and systemic<\/span> sclerosis<\/span>. <\/p>\nThe morpho subtypes vary depending on the location of the affected skin. Any morpho subtype can also cause deep or subdermal involvement of the underlying fat, fascia<\/span>, muscle or bone.<\/p>\nUnlike systemic sclerosis, morph does not cause:<\/p>\n
\n- Thickening of the skin of the fingers and toes (sclerodactyly)<\/li>\n
- Specific autoantibodies<\/span> in the blood (as an anti-centromere antibody<\/span> or anti-Scl70)<\/li>\n
- Abnormal small blood vessels<\/span> on the fingers (nail fold capillaries<\/span>)<\/li>\n
- Fibrosis and \/ or vascular<\/span> Damage to internal organs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
<\/span>Morph<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
<\/div>\n
See more morpho images. <\/p>\n
<\/span>Who gets the morph?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe morph is rare and is estimated to have a incidence<\/span> 1 to 3 per 100,000 children. It is three times more common in women than men and often begins in childhood. But not hereditary<\/span>true HLA<\/span> The subtypes (HLA-DRB1 * 04: 04 and HLA-B * 37) are associated with an increased risk of morpho.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/span>What is the cause of the morph?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe precise cause of the morph is unknown.<\/p>\n
\n- Located genetic<\/span> factors seem to play a role; for example, cutaneous<\/span> mosaicism can be important in linear<\/span> morpho, which follows Blaschko lines<\/span> of epidermal<\/span> developing.<\/li>\n
- Up to 40% of patients with severe morpho forms have a personal or family history of autoimmune<\/span> disease (eg, thyroid disease, vitiligo) or rheumatologic disease (eg, rheumatoid arthritis<\/span>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
For unknown reasons, the morph often develops after an external trigger such as:<\/p>\n
\n- Bug bite or tick bite (the role of Borellia burgdorferi, cause of Lyme disease is controversial)<\/li>\n
- Injection (eg, Bleomycin, silicone) or vaccination<\/li>\n
- Repeated friction<\/li>\n
- Surgery<\/li>\n
- Radiotherapy<\/span><\/li>\n
- Penetrating wound<\/li>\n
- Extreme exercise<\/li>\n
- Repeated minor friction along the waist, bra strap, and inguinal<\/span> region in isomorphic<\/span> disseminated<\/span> license plate<\/span> morph<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Trauma<\/span>Morpho-related may occur at the affected site, or at distant unrelated sites.<\/p>\n<\/span>What are the subtypes and clinical characteristics of the morph?<\/span><\/h2>\nWhen describing the morph, consider three characteristics.<\/p>\n
\n- Anatomical distribution<\/span>: location and if it is limited, linear, generalized<\/span> or mixed<\/li>\n
- \nMorphology<\/span>: inflammatory<\/span>, sclerotic<\/span>, depigmented or atrophic<\/span>\n<\/li>\n
- Tissue involvement depth: skin, fat, fascia, muscle, bone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span>Anatomical distribution<\/span><\/h3>\nMorpho subtypes are limited, linear, generalized, or mixed.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Limited plate morph<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- The most common type in adults.<\/li>\n
- Oval shaped patches from 1 to 20 cm in diameter.<\/li>\n
- Two or fewer body sites. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Rare types of limited plaque morpho include guttata morpho and atrophoderma<\/span> Pasini and Pierini. <\/p>\n\n<\/span>Morph<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
<\/div>\n
See more images of morpho ... <\/p>\n
<\/span>Linear morph<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Most common subtype in children<\/li>\n
- It is found in the extremities, trunk or head (craniofacial)<\/li>\n
- Follow lines and eddies called Blaschko lines <\/li>\n
- Usually unilateral<\/span>, but maybe bilateral<\/span> and extended<\/span> in severe cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Linear moulin atrophoderma is a rare subtype of atrophy and pigmented<\/span> linear morph.<\/p>\nThe craniofacial linear morph was previously subclassified as:<\/p>\n
\n- En coup de saber (linear atrophic band +\/- sclerosis, classically on the forehead or scalp)<\/li>\n
- Parry Romberg \/ progressive<\/span> hemifacial atrophy<\/span> (atrophy of fat, muscle and bone +\/- sclerotic changes +\/- dyspigmented, affecting one side of the face). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These types of craniofacial linear morpho occur together and vary according to morphology and depth of tissue involvement.<\/p>\n\n<\/span>Linear morph<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
<\/div>\n
See more images of morpho ... <\/p>\n
<\/span>Generalized morph<\/span><\/h4>\nGeneralized morph affects three or more sites on the body. There are two main patterns;<\/p>\n
\n- Scattered plaque morphea: scattered plates<\/span> with unaffected skin involved. It can be isomorphic (occurring at friction sites such as the waistband, bra line, and inguinal folds) or non-isomorphic (scattered plaques anywhere). <\/li>\n
- Panclerotic morph: circumferential<\/span>, confluent<\/span> sclerosis, which is generally rapidly progressive and affects most of the body surface area. This occurs in infancy (disables childhood panclerotic morpho) and adulthood (when overlapping with eosinophilic<\/span> fasciitis) <\/li>\n
- Generalized morph saves digits<\/span> and periareolar skin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
<\/span>Panclerotic morpho of the thorax<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
Morph<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
<\/div>\n
See more images of morpho ... <\/p>\n
Mixed pattern morph<\/p>\n