Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40551142›Full record

ReviewOrphanet journal of rare diseases2025

The clinical phenotypes and therapeutic strategies for stiff skin syndrome: a case series with literature review.

Caihui Zhang, Sihao Gao, Zhixing Sun, Tao Wang, Hongmei Song

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Caihui ZhangDepartment of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Sihao GaoDepartment of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Zhixing SunDepartment of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Tao WangDepartment of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. wangtaopumch@126.com.ORCID 0000-0002-9998-2862
Hongmei SongDepartment of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. songhm1021@126.com.ORCID 0000-0001-9801-2517

Funding

National High-level Hospital Clinical Research Funding 2022-PUMCH-B-079)National Key R&D Program of China 2021YFC2702001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStiff skin syndrome (SSS) is a rare, non-inflammatory skin disease with a pronounced restriction in joint mobility. In this study, we aim to report Chinese pediatric patients with SSS in our center and summarize the clinical features of the disease through literature review.

resultsA retrospective study was conducted on 16 pediatric patients diagnosed with SSS at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2014 and January 2024, based on clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and skin biopsy findings. Among these cases, two were classified as widespread SSS, and 14 as segmental SSS. Additionally, a review of relevant literature published between January 2000 and January 2024 involving 138 cases of pediatric SSS was also conducted. The clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of these 154 patients were summarized. The age of onset in patients was 2.0(0.5, 4.8) years, with an average age at diagnosis being 9.0(5.0, 13.0) years. Thigh skin sclerosis (81, 52.6%) was the most common manifestation observed in these patients. Joint restriction was present in 55(35.7%) patients. Patients with joint contractures had longer diagnostic delays compared with those without joint contractures. Patients were primarily treated with physical therapy, while some patients received medications such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), losartan, and secukinumab. However, the prognosis varied.

conclusionThe diagnosis of SSS should involve a thorough investigation of family history, detailed physical examination, comprehensive pathological assessment, genetic testing when applicable, and careful exclusion of other scleroderma-like diseases. Currently, there is limited evidence supporting the use of systemic treatment options targeting the transforming growth factor-β or interleukin-17 pathways (such as MMF, losartan, and secukinumab) to slow disease progression. However, these treatments are not capable of reversing established skin lesions, and further investigations are imperative to assess their therapeutic efficacy in SSS.

Indexed as

ContractureSkin Diseases, GeneticAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMalePhenotypeRetrospective StudiesChildrenDiagnosisPrognosisStiff skin syndromeTreatment

Identifiers

PMID40551142
PMCPMC12186426

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.