Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia induced by Hirudo medicinalis (leeches).

For centuries, Hirudo medicinalis (medicinal leech) has been used as a remedy to treat many discomforts, such as muscle and joint pain. Nowadays, using leech in reconstructive surgery, microsurgery, wound and flap healing, venous insufficiency, varicosities and many other disorders has increased. In this study, we report a 45 year old female patient with six pruritic papules on her legs since10 months ago that appeared about 4 weeks after one session of leech application. Skin biopsy was performed on one of the papules, and in histopathology, superficial ulceration with a dense superficial and deep inflammatory infiltrate within the dermis composed of lymphocytes and eosinophils detected that considering history of leech application at this site, these constellation of data was compatible with the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia induced by leeches and the patient was cured by a topical steroid and cryotherapy.

Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma Due to Hirudotherapy

Pseudolymphoma, also known as Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration, is a benign but usually chronic, T-cell infiltrating disease with erythematous papules and plaques usually seen on the skin of the face, neck, and back. The use of leech therapy also known as hirudotherapy has increased in recent years. Here, we report a 52-year-old male patient who had undergone hirudotherapy in his neck and developed infiltrating plaques after four months. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Jessner's lymphocytic infiltration. In parallel with the increasing use of hirudotherapy in recent years, the side-effect reports will likely to increase. Indications and contraindications of hirudotherapy, which is being used officially in hospitals, should be taken into consideration.

Multiple pseudolymphomas caused by Hirudo medicinalis therapy.

Therapy with medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) is now frequently applied in plastic surgery and in the management of chronic venous insufficiency. We observed a patient in whom firm, brown-red, pea-sized papules developed at each site where leeches had been applied on the lower legs. Histology, immunohistology, and molecular analysis of T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement proved these lesions to be follicular pseudolymphomas.