Weber-Christian Disease (cont.)

The prognosis or long-term outlook is very different for each patient with Weber-Christian disease and depends on the severity of organ involvement. Some patients have mild, intermittent, annoying symptoms, while in others Weber-Christian disease can be fatal. After several years of symptoms, Weber-Christian disease may go away permanently (remission).

There is no cure or uniformly effective treatment that works for everyone with Weber-Christian disease. Possible treatments include oral medications that alter the immune-system reaction and decrease overall inflammation. Some patients have had improvement with medications including chloroquine, thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, tetracycline, cyclosporine, azathioprine, prednisone, and a host of nonsteroidal medications like ibuprofen and indomethacin.

Accompanying treatments for the symptoms may include additional oral pain medications as well as topical salves to treat and prevent local skin infections.

Overall, when internal organs are inflamed, medicines directed toward the underlying inflammation are considered. In summary, treatment for Weber-Christian disease is nonspecific, and antiinflammatory therapy may not be fully effective for everyone with the disease.

• Weber-Christian disease is an uncommon inflammatory condition of the fat.
• It's a disease of unknown cause.
• It most commonly affects the thighs and legs of women.
• It's difficult to treat and may heal with permanent scars.

Last Editorial Review: 7/24/2008

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/weber-christian_disease/article.htm