Abstract

A CASE OF ASYMPTOMATIC CREST SYNDROME

Swetha S., Andhuvan G.*, Sivani R., Adhithyan A., Senthilvel N. and Syaam Ganesh B.

ABSTRACT

CREST syndrome is one form of systemic sclerosis (SSc) which meets at least three of the five clinical features: calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly and telangiectasia. CREST syndrome is a chronic disease with a positive titer of anticentromere antibodies, which are known to be specific for CREST syndrome. The organs most frequently affected by scleroderma are the skin, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, skeletal muscle, and the pericardium. We report a rare case of a man in his 60’s admitted in the department of internal medicine with major complaints of scrotal swelling and redness for 2 days. He had a recent history of self-fall at home 10 days ago which resulted in fracture of the right hip for which he was operated in an outside hospital. Due to wound soakage associated serious fluid, he was transferred here for further management. Further investigations were performed to make a final diagnosis. Serum antinuclear antibodies (anticentromere) were found to be positive (3+) and ENA profile showed CREST syndrome after which steroids were started. Crest syndromes are rarely seen, but our case is an asymptomatic form of crest syndrome with other associated comorbidities including interstitial lung disease (ILD), rheumatoid arthritis, Hemolytic anemia and supra ventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Keywords: Crest syndrome, systemic sclerosis, Anticentromere antibodies, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, Supra ventricular tachycardia.