Abstract

We report the case of a 48-year-old woman who developed morphea-like plaques after 1 year of treatment with D-penicillamine at 250 mg daily for a seronegative erosive arthritis of rheumatoid type. The rash began as several red itchy patches on the trunk; these became thickened and shiny over about 3 months. The histological appearance was of increased dermal fibrosis with an inflammatory infiltrate round dermal capillaries. However, epidermal changes were not typical of morphea. New lesions ceased to appear within a few months of stopping penicillamine, and by 1 year all the plaques were pale and symptomless.