We read the recent case report by Magalhães et al.1 about Erasmus syndrome (ErS), an uncommon entity characterized by chronic silica inhalation causing silicosis and development of systemic sclerosis (SSc).1-5 The 33-year-old male, plumber and locksmith worker, had a confirmed diagnosis of SSc associated with interstitial lung disease characterized as advanced silicosis and was referred for pulmonary transplantation.1 He had a family antecedent of rheumatoid arthritis, elevated titers of fine speckled ANA antibodies, anti-SSA-52kDa, and Scl-70, Raynaud's of sclerodermic pattern, and moderately severe restrictive lung function tests. After being stable with immunosuppressive therapy, he worsened and was put on the lung transplant waiting list. The authors commented the exposure to silica associated with a 3.2-fold increase in the relative risk of SSc.
