Collagen metabolites in urine in localized scleroderma (morphoea).

Hydroxyproline (Hyp), hydroxylysine (Hyl), and proline (Pro) were assayed in the urine from 28 patients with localized scleroderma (13 with localized morphoea plaques, 13 with generalized morphoea, and two with scleroderma en coup de sabre), as well as 17 control persons. The levels of Hyp, Hyl and Pro were elevated in patients with localized morphoea plaques as compared to the controls indicating major changes of the collagen metabolism in this type of localized scleroderma.