Erythema elevatum diutinum--a case successfully treated with colchicine

Colchicine in Managing Skin Conditions: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Colchicine is a natural alkaloid with anti-inflammatory properties used to treat various disorders, including some skin diseases. This paper aims to incorporate all the available studies proposing colchicine as a treatment alternative in the management of cutaneous conditions. (2) Methods: In this systematic review, the available articles present in various databases (PubMed, Scopus-Embase, and Web of Science), proposing colchicine as a treatment for cutaneous pathological conditions, have been selected. Exclusion criteria included a non-English language and non-human studies. (3) Results: Ninety-six studies were included. Most of them were case reports and case series studies describing colchicine as single therapy, or in combination with other drugs. Hidradenitis suppurativa, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodosum, erythema induratum, storage diseases, perforating dermatosis, bullous diseases, psoriasis, vasculitis, acne, urticaria, stomatitis, actinic keratosis, and pustular dermatosis were the main diseases discussed in literature. Although the therapeutic outcomes were variable, most of the studies reported, on average, good clinical results (4) Conclusions: Colchicine could be, as a single therapy or in combination with other drugs, a possible treatment to manage several skin diseases.

[Erythema elevatum diutinum associated with pyoderma gangrenosum in an HIV-positive patient]

BACKGROUND

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a very rare form of chronic dermatosis clinically characterised by reddish-violet papular nodules extending to the surfaces of the limbs and extremities. Histologically, there are classically two phases of progression initially involving associated neutrophilic dermatosis and leucocytoclastic vasculitis, which is later followed by fibrosis of characteristic appearance. We report the association of EED and pyoderma gangrenosum in a patient infected with HIV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 53-year-old male seen since 1989 for HIV infection had been presenting firm bilateral and symmetrical nodules on the feet for 6 months. Histological analysis of one of these nodules resulted in diagnosis of chronic erythema elevatum diutinum and treatment with dapsone was initiated. Three months later, despite regression of the EED lesions under dapsone, two large pustules appeared on the outer aspect of the right leg; they were confluent and progressed towards a superficial ulcer with rounded edges with a clinical appearance evocative of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). Histopathological analysis demonstrated a massive dermal infiltrate beneath the ulcer comprising neutrophils with evidence of leucocytoclasia, all of which militated in favour of the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum.

DISCUSSION

We report for the first time the association of two forms of neutrophilic dermatosis, EED and PG, in an HIV-positive patient. This case report and certain data in the literature suggest that the various forms of neutrophilic dermatosis tend to result in a range of lesions rather than in clearly distinct entities.

Erythema elevatum diutinum as a first clinical manifestation for diagnosing HIV infection: case history

CONTEXT

Erythema elevatum diutinum is a chronic and rare dermatosis that is considered to be a variant of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It is probably mediated by immune complexes. It is generally associated with autoimmune, neoplastic and infectious processes. Recently, it has been added to the group of specific dermatoses that are associated with HIV.

CASE REPORT

We report on the case of a patient who had erythema elevatum diutinum as the first clinical evidence for diagnosing HIV infection. Dapsone was used in the treatment of this patient, and partial regression of the lesions was achieved within 15 days, even before anti-retroviral therapy was prescribed.

CONCLUSION

When there is a diagnosis of erythema elevatum diutinum, HIV infection should be investigated, especially in atypical and exacerbated clinical manifestations.

Erythema Elevatum Diutinum in the Setting of Connective Tissue Disease and Chronic Bacterial Infection

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare and chronic cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It is predominantly seen on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. Although a specific cause is largely unknown, EED has been noted to occur in association with a wide variety of diseases. A 28-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a 53-year-old woman with an overlap syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis and polymyositis are presented. Both patients developed EED in the setting of chronic recurrent bacterial infections. Patients with a connective tissue disease are at increased risk for such infections secondary to immunosuppression, either from the disease itself or secondary to immunosuppressive therapy. EED has been independently reported to occur in the setting of connective tissue disease as well as in the setting of chronic infection. Our patients had both of these underlying conditions, which are known to predispose patients to immune complex-mediated vasculitides, in this case EED. One patient's EED responded to treatment of the SLE and the other improved, as has been previously reported with dapsone.

Erythema elevatum diutinum in a patient with relapsing polychondritis

A 69-year-old man with a history of relapsing polychondritis developed a widespread cutaneous eruption that was clinically and histologically typical of erythema elevatum diutinum. This eruption was accompanied by a recurrence of arthralgias. The significance of this association between relapsing polychondritis and erythema elevatum diutinum, which has not been previously reported, is discussed.

Erythema elevatum diutinum: a clinical and histopathologic study of 13 patients

BACKGROUND

Erythema elevatum diutinum is a rare condition representing a chronic leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE

Clinical and laboratory features of the disease were reviewed to better understand the disease.

METHODS

The medical records and histopathologic slides of 13 patients with erythema elevatum diutinum were studied.

RESULTS

The lesions were violaceous, deep red, or brown and typically were papules or plaques. Lesions were most often located on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. Associated medical problems included hematologic abnormalities in six patients: IgA clonal gammopathies (four), multiple myeloma (one), and myelodysplasia (one). Erythema elevatum diutinum preceded the myeloproliferative disorders by an average of 7.8 years. All patients showed vasculitis. Leukocytoclasia was present in 27 of 35 specimens. The predominant cell type in the inflammatory infiltrate was polymorphonuclear leukocytes or a mixture of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

The most significant finding of this study is the association of erythema elevatum diutinum with hematologic disease, most frequently an IgA monoclonal gammopathy.