Occupational scleroderma. A 17-year follow-up study.

Two patients with a scleroderma-like disorder induced by epoxy resins were reported from the Department of Dermatology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan in 1980. Here, we describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of these patients after 17 years' follow-up from 1976 to 1993. Their systemic manifestations and indurated sclerotic skin changes disappeared within 5 years. No internal organ involvement has developed during the period of follow-up. On routine laboratory tests, no abnormalities have been found in the peripheral blood or in the blood chemistry or serology. Histological examination revealed atrophy of the dermis and restoration of the normal pattern of fine collagen bundles, when compared with the previous skin biopsy specimens. This scleroderma-like disorder induced by epoxy resins is considered to be different from systemic sclerosis: it has an acute onset and a fairly good prognosis, and does not show involvement of the internal organs.