TY - JOUR T1 - Monoclonal gammopathy in scleredema: Observations in three cases AU - Kövary P, Vakilzadeh F, Macher E, Zaun H, Merk H, Goerz G Y1 - 1981/09/01 N1 - 10.1001/archderm.1981.01650090018016 JO - Archives of Dermatology SP - 536 EP - 539 VL - 117 IS - 9 N2 - • A monoclonal gammopathy was observed in three patients with long-term and widespread scleredema (Buschke's disease). There was no evidence of multiple myeloma in any patient. Deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the skin was not detected by direct immunofluorescence microscopy. In contrast to scleromyxedema (lichen myxedematosus), from which scleredema can be distinguished clinically and histologically, the monoclonal immunoglobulins in two cases were of IgG - K and IgG3-K type. Only one of the three patients had IgG1-λ paraproteinemia, which is frequently seen in scleromyxedema. Our findings suggest that diffuse scleredema may be characterized by paraproteinemia but that the possible role of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of this disease has yet to be resolved.(Arch Dermatol 1981;117:536-539) SN - 0003-987X M3 - doi: 10.1001/archderm.1981.01650090018016 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1981.01650090018016 ER -