The fact that some people affected with this disease have circulating antinuclear antibodies in their serum supports the theory that<unk>  may be an autoimmune disease, specifically a variant of localized scleroderma. Several instances have been reported where more than one member of a family has been affected, prompting speculation of an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. However, there has also been at least one report of monozygotic twins in which only one of the twins was affected, casting doubt on this theory. Further, the National Organization for Rare Disorders has stated there is currently no evidence that<unk>  is genetic or that it can be passed on to children. Various other theories about the cause and pathogenesis have been suggested, including alterations in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system (perhaps as a result of trauma or infection involving the cervical plexus or the sympathetic trunk), as the literature reported it following sympathectomy, disorders in migration of cranial neural crest cells, or chronic cell-mediated inflammatory process of the blood vessels. It is likely that the disease results from different mechanisms in different people, with all of these factors potentially being involved.
Parry–Romberg syndrome
Smith–Fineman–Myers syndrome
MORM syndrome
Sly syndrome
Imerslund–Gräsbeck syndrome
WHIM syndrome
Lujan–Fryns syndrome
Senior–Løken syndrome