Hypoventilatory respiratory failure in generalised scleroderma

A patient with generalised cutaneous and gastrointestinal scleroderma subsequently died from respiratory failure secondary to hyperventilation. At necropsy changes consistent with scleroderma of the diaphragm were found; these were thought to have contributed appreciably to the terminal respiratory failure. This case indicates that diaphragmatic changes should be added to the list of respiratory complications of scleroderma.