Nodular vasculitis (erythema induratum) associated with systemic minocycline.

A 29-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a 3-month history of bilateral lower limb swelling with painful erythematous nodules on shins without ulceration. She had been taking minocycline for acne vulgaris for 3 years. Biochemical investigations showed deranged liver function test with positive ANA and mixed antinuclear factor (ANF) pattern. A skin biopsy was in keeping with a diagnosis of nodular vasculitis. Her skin lesions and liver function test improved within 3 months of stopping the minocycline treatment. This case report raises the awareness that minocycline could be a potential cause of nodular vasculitis, patients on minocycline should be closely monitored and minocycline should ideally not be prescribed for more than 12 weeks, given the possible adverse effects.

Etiologic dilemma and challenges of management of nodular vasculitis in tertiary health-care facility: A case report.

Nodular vasculitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the skin and subcutaneous fat tissue, characterized by crops of small, tender, erythematous nodules on the legs, mostly on the calves and shins. We present a 17-year-old adolescent female who presented with a six-month history of cough; recurrent fever and bilateral lower limb multiple ulcerated nodules of 1-month duration. Clinical examination revealed generalized lymphadenopathy with bilateral pitting leg edema which had multiple nodules and discoid ulcers extending from the groin to the ankles and discharging purulent fluid. Tests for human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis were negative. Histology of nodule biopsy revealed extensive caseous and coagulative fat necrosis, granulomatous inflammation with epitheloid macrophages and multinucleated giant cells surrounding the necrosis, and lymphoid infiltration of vessel walls with fibrous thickening of the intima, typical of Whitfield-type erythema induratum. There was initial but very transient response to antibiotic treatment, with further deterioration and eventual death from overwhelming sepsis.

Tuberculoid Leprosy Masquerading as Erythema Induratum.

Introduction: Erythema Induratum (EI) is a relatively rare dermatologic disorder affecting subcutaneous fat tissue, which is often associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This report details the presentation, diagnosis and management in a 70-year-old female who presented with a painful erythematous annular rash at the clinic. The rash was later diagnosed as EI associated with Mycobacterium leprae, one rarely seen in literature. Discussion: EI is a rare form of panniculitis that typically presents as a recurrent grouping of tender nodules and plaques on the posterior aspect of the lower legs. Although EI is considered idiopathic in most cases, it can be associated with M. leprae. Given the atypical presentation of a rash, a biopsy was done. It showed epithelioid granulomatous dermatitis with lobar panniculitis. A DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also sent and revealed the presence of M. leprae. Treatment of EI without association with M. leprae includes potassium iodide, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), rest, elevation, compression and, in severe cases, systemic immunosupressives. If tuberculoid leprosy is confirmed, the attending physician is encouraged to consult the infectious disease department as treatment varies with presentation. Conclusions: This case details the diagnosis and management involved in a case of tuberculoid leprosy masquerading as EI. Management of the EI involved NSAIDs and potassium iodide. The leprosy was treated with dapsone and rifampin in conjunction with an infectious disease consultation. Our case highlights the importance of relying on a strong clinical suspicion based on a patient's social history in order to diagnose rare entities accurately.

[Cutaneous vasculitis and vasculopathy : Differential diagnosis in biopsies of the lower extremities]. / Kutane Vaskulitis und Vaskulopathie : Differenzialdiagnosen an der unteren Extremität.

The skin is one of the most frequently involved organs in primary systemic and secondary vasculitis; moreover, a vasculitis can occur as single organ vasculitis, limited to the skin. For most types of vasculitis, the lower extremities constitute common sites with clinical symptoms of palpable purpura, nodules, and ulcers. In histopathology of cutaneous vasculitis, it is of utmost importance to correctly identify the vessel types involved and to discriminate between vasculitic vessel damage, unspecific reactive vessel changes, vascular occlusive diseases, noninflammatory purpura, or perivascular infiltrates due to other inflammatory skin diseases. Small-vessel vasculitis is the most frequent type of cutaneous vasculitis; during florid phases, a dermal leukocytoclastic vasculitis is found regardless of etiology. Additional extravascular changes may give etiological clues, however, a correlation with the clinical picture, radiology, and serology is essential. The biopsy type and technique need to be adjusted to the suspected diagnosis and site of the vessels involved. Polyarteritis nodosa and nodular vasculitis can be diagnosed only in biopsies with sufficient subcutaneous tissue. Especially in cutaneous ulcers, a lateral rim of vital skin and subcutaneous tissue is indispensable for a correct diagnosis. Large-vessel vasculitis is not found in skin biopsies of the lower extremities.

Potassium Iodide for Cutaneous Inflammatory Disorders: A Monocentric, Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: Potassium iodide (KI) is a medication that has been used for decades in dermatology and it is mentioned as a treatment option in all major dermatology textbooks. Yet, there is little recent information on its efficacy. In our study, we wanted to retrospectively evaluate the therapy response to KI in our patients. METHODS: The hospital information system was searched for patients treated with KI at the Department of Dermatology (University Hospital Zurich) in the last 20 years (January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2017). A total of 52 patients were found and, subsequently, 35 patients were included in our study. RESULTS: KI was prescribed for the following skin conditions: erythema nodosum, disseminated granuloma anulare, necrobiosis lipoidica, nodular vasculitis, cutaneous sarcoidosis, and granulomatous perioral dermatitis/ rosacea. The median duration of KI intake was 5 ± 7.7 weeks (range 1-26). The global assessment of efficacy by the treating physician showed an improvement of disease in about a third of all patients. No response was seen in 14 patients and 9 even had a progression of disease. An adverse event was documented in 16 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that an improvement was reached in only about a third of all cases. High response rates with only mild side effects (in 16 out of 35 patients) were observed.

Use of QuantiFERON-TB Gold to determine the aetiology of idiopathic erythema induratum: A case report.

Although rare, erythema induratum is the most common entity presenting as lobular panniculitis with vasculitis. It is usually caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, although other aetiologies have been reported. We present a case of a 73-year-old male with multiple recurring tender erythematous nodules on the backs of both calves and shins. Prior to arrival in our clinic, the patient underwent a 9-month course of isoniazid with no improvement and subsequently received a diagnosis of idiopathic erythema induratum. We performed an interferon-gamma release assay QuantiFERON-TB Gold which was positive for M. tuberculosis infection. The patient was successfully treated with ethambutol 1.6 g for 1 month; pyrazinamide 2 g for 2 months; and isoniazid 300 mg, vitamin B6 25 mg, and rifampin 600 mg for 6 months. This case highlights the utility of using interferon-gamma release assay QuantiFERON-TB Gold and a multidrug regiment over isoniazid in erythema induratum.

[Erythema nodosum : a panniculitis of diverse origins]. / L'érythème noueux, une hypodermite aux origines diverses.

Erythema nodosum is an acute nodular panniculitis, mainly affecting young women. Diverse etiologies are evoked, but the most frequent are sarcoidosis (Löfgren syndrome), streptococcal infections, yersiniosis and inflammatory enteropathies. Antalgic drugs and rest are usually adequate in this condition, which is spontaneously of favourable evolution. Treatment of the cause is open to discussion, considering their lack of effect on the evolution of erythema nodosum.

L'érythème noueux est une hypodermite nodulaire aiguë atteignant principalement la femme jeune. Ses racines biologiques sont diverses, mais le tableau étiologique est dominé par la sarcoïdose (syndrome de Löfgren), des infections streptococciques, la yersiniose digestive et des entéropathies inflammatoires. Antalgiques et repos au lit sont habituellement suffisants pour contrôler cette affection d'évolution spontanément favorable. Le traitement de la cause est à discuter en fonction de chaque cas, en sachant qu'il sera sans effet sur l'évolution de l'érythème noueux.

Treatment of nodular vasculitis with colchicine.

Nodular vasculitis (NV) refers to a chronic relapsing lobular panniculitis that is thought to be a hypersensitivity reaction to antigenic triggers. While it is commonly associated with tuberculosis, in many cases no underlying cause is found and the condition is difficult to manage. Here, we report three patients with refractory idiopathic NV effectively treated with colchicine, leading to a significant improvement or complete resolution of their symptoms. Colchicine was successfully used as a steroid-sparing agent, and in one patient its cessation was associated with a flare of disease.

Nodular Vasculitis Associated with Cefazolin / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

[Cutaneous panniculitis]. / Panniculites cutanées.

Panniculitis is an inflammation of the subcutaneous fat. Skin biopsy plays a critical role in the differential diagnosis of panniculitis. The most common approach to diagnosis relies on the differentiation between predominantly septal or lobular panniculitis, followed by the distinction between lesions with and without vasculitis. It is also very important to submit a part of the skin biopsy for microbiological analysis and for T-cell clonal expansion if T-cell lymphoma is suspected. Erythema nodosum, the most frequent septal panniculitis, has many causes and in its typical clinical presentation, does not require skin biopsy. In other panniculitis, diagnosis is based on the integration of the clinical and histological data, which renders a deep cutaneous biopsy necessary. Periarteritis nodosa, a septal panniculitis with vasculitis characterized by subcutaneous nodules and livedo racemosa, can be associated with systemic involvement. Nodular thrombophlebitis needs search for associated coagulopathy, Behçet's disease, periarteritis nodosa or Buerger's disease. Lobular panniculitis are classified according to the nature of cells present in the inflammatory infiltrate. If there is a lymphocytic infiltration, lupus panniculitis is difficult to differentiate from subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma. If there are histiocytes, it can be a sarcoidosis, a cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis or, in newborn, a subcutaneous fat necrosis. Neutrophilic panniculitis needs careful clinic-pathologic correlation. Treatment of panniculitis can be challenging and is based on the histopathological findings. Frequently, the precise cause of panniculitis cannot be established from the outset, so it is important to follow-up patients and not hesitate to repeat the skin biopsy.

Methotrexate in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Nodular Vasculitis.

We report a case of recalcitrant nodular vasculitis in a 23 years old male who was treated successfully with methotrexate. He presented to our Dermatology out Patient Department, Tribhuvan university teaching hospital with complaints of recurrent painful discharging ulcer over bilateral calf and lower legs of three years duration. The diagnosis of nodular vasculitis was made on the basis of the clinical presentation and the histopathological findings. The patient was treated with anti-tuberculosis treatment with initial good response; however the lesions persisted later on, despite completing the course of ATT. The patient did not respond to treatment with systemic corticosteroids also. On starting methotrexate, the lesion started healing within a period of two weeks and there was significant improvement in subsequent one month. This case report highlights the efficacy of methotrexate in the treatment of recalcitrant nodular vasculitis.

Eritema indurado de Bazin-vasculitis nodular / Erythema induratum of Bazin-nodular vasculitis

Comunicamos un caso de eritema indurado de Bazin-vasculitis nodular en una mujer de 22 años, con una reacción fuertemente positiva al test de la tuberculina, lesiones ulceradas y una buena respuesta a la terapia anti tuberculosa hasta el momento. Se discute la ubicación nosológica de esta entidad y se enfatiza sobre la necesidad de una biopsia amplia adecuada.

A 22-old woman with an erythema induratum de Bazin-nodular vasculitis was reported, the tuberculin test was strongly positive measuring 17 mm of diameter. The patient had indolent ulcerated lesions, the therapy with four anti-tuberculous drugs results effective until now. The existence of the entity as unique or not as well the need of a wide biopsy is discussed.

Eritema indurado de Bazin-vasculitis nodular / Erythema induratum of Bazin-nodular vasculitis

Comunicamos un caso de eritema indurado de Bazin-vasculitis nodular en una mujer de 22 años, con una reacción fuertemente positiva al test de la tuberculina, lesiones ulceradas y una buena respuesta a la terapia anti tuberculosa hasta el momento. Se discute la ubicación nosológica de esta entidad y se enfatiza sobre la necesidad de una biopsia amplia adecuada.(AU)

A 22-old woman with an erythema induratum de Bazin-nodular vasculitis was reported, the tuberculin test was strongly positive measuring 17 mm of diameter. The patient had indolent ulcerated lesions, the therapy with four anti-tuberculous drugs results effective until now. The existence of the entity as unique or not as well the need of a wide biopsy is discussed.(AU)

Secondary Syphilis with Nodular Vasculitis Mimicking Behçet's Disease.

Although, erythema nodosum is a common skin manifestation associated with syphilis, nodular vasculitis is a rare feature. Here, we describe a case of a 22-year-old, human immunedeficiency virus negative, non-immunocompromised man who developed recurrent oral and scrotal ulcers with nodular lesions of the lower extremitie. Behçet's disease was initially suspected, however, his serologic test for syphilis was positive, and he was thus diagnosed with secondary syphilis, with a skin biopsy showing nodular vasculitis. The patient was treated with benzathine penicillin, and the skin lesions disappeared after treatment.

Secondary Syphilis with Nodular Vasculitis Mimicking Behcet's Disease / 감염과화학요법

Although, erythema nodosum is a common skin manifestation associated with syphilis, nodular vasculitis is a rare feature. Here, we describe a case of a 22-year-old, human immunedeficiency virus negative, non-immunocompromised man who developed recurrent oral and scrotal ulcers with nodular lesions of the lower extremitie. Behcet's disease was initially suspected, however, his serologic test for syphilis was positive, and he was thus diagnosed with secondary syphilis, with a skin biopsy showing nodular vasculitis. The patient was treated with benzathine penicillin, and the skin lesions disappeared after treatment.

Erythema Nodosum: Clinicopathologic Correlations and Their Use in Differential Diagnosis

PURPOSE: Typically, a diagnosis of erythema nodosum (EN) is based on clinical features. However, other diseases manifest with inflammatory nodules of the lower limbs in addition to EN, such as the EN-like lesions of Behcet's disease (BD). The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the frequency of histologically proven EN among diseases diagnosed clinically as EN, to determine underlying causes of EN, and to compare clinical and histologic features between EN and other diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We selected 99 patients diagnosed clinically with EN and performed skin biopsies. All pathologic slides were evaluated and diagnosed; and after histologic diagnoses were made we reviewed the patients' medical records. RESULTS: Among the 99 patients diagnosed clinically with EN, 47 were biopsy-verified EN. The EN-like lesions of BD and nodular vasculitis were both in the primary differential diagnosis of EN. No definite difference in clinical features exists among these three diseases. Histologically, EN demonstrated septal panniculitis in the majority of patients. Lobular panniculitis was frequently observed in NV, and mixed or mostly lobular panniculitis was observed in the EN-like lesion. Vasculitis was rarely observed in EN; however lymphocytic vasculitis was observed frequently in EN-like lesions and neutrophilic vasculitis was observed in NV. The frequency of granulomatous inflammation was highest in NV. Some cases of patients with typical BD demonstrated classic EN lesions. CONSLUSION: It was extremely difficult to clinically differentiate EN from EN-like lesions or NV. We feel skin biopsy is mandatory for the diagnosis of lower extremity erythematous nodular lesions.