The possible role of leprosy in the etiology of the Besnier-Boeck sarcoid and Schaumanns syndrome

ABSTRACT

Leprosy may manifest itself in the form of skin affections which histologically coincide with Besnier's lupus pernio, Boeck's cutaneous sarcoids and Schaumann's erythrodermia. Leprosy is able to cause in the bones, and perhaps also in the lungs, changes which radiologically are strikingly like those that have been observed in connection with those skin affections. It has not been shown or proved that the micro-organism of leprosy can cause the systemic reactions which together constitute Schaumann´s syndrome. In order to show that such might be the case it would be necessary to make specially directed postmortem examinations.