Erythema elevatum diutinum: an ultrastructural case study

Late-stage nodular erythema elevatum diutinum mimicking sclerotic fibroma

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare, cutaneous vasculitis of uncertain origin. EED can present clinically as chronic bilateral, symmetrical, periarticular papules, plaques and nodules. We report here an unusual case of EED presenting as multiple, densely fibrosing nodules on the feet of a 60-year-old human immunodeficiency virus positive woman. The initial evaluation of the patient was complicated by the strong histologic resemblance of multiple lesions to sclerotic fibroma, a cutaneous manifestation of Cowden disease. Our case highlights the important features that distinguish these 2 pathologic entities.

Autoimmune keratolysis in a patient with leukocytoclastic vasculitis: unusual erythema elevatum diutinum with granulomatous pattern

PURPOSE

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCCV) is an immune complex-mediated, small vessel disease that is clinically characterized by the presence of palpable purpuric lesions, most often in association with rheumatic diseases. Ocular manifestations of LCCV are rare.

METHODS

We describe a patient with an unusual granulomatous pattern of erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) associated with autoimmune keratolysis.

RESULTS

We studied a 64-year-old man with decreased visual acuity and nodular lesions in both hands. Ocular examination revealed bilateral superior corneal melting with perforation in the left eye and conjunctival thickening in both eyes, in association with a severe inflammatory reaction. Histopathologic examination of the conjunctiva revealed granulomatous vasculitis with neutrophilic infiltrate, giant cells, and fibroblastic proliferation. A punch biopsy taken from his skin showed similar characteristics that suggested EED; however, there were no giant cells.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, autoimmune keratolysis secondary to cutaneous LCCV (EED) has not been described previously, and there has been no description of granulomatous reaction (in the conjunctiva) in EED.

Ultrastructural study of chronic lesions of erythema elevatum diutinum: "extracellular cholesterosis" is a misnomer

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare disease of unknown origin that belongs to the spectrum of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Chronic lesions of EED contain lipid deposits, for which the term extracellular cholesterosis has been coined. We studied a typical case of EED with long-standing lesions. Findings of electron microscopic examination revealed a heavy, exclusively intracellular lipid deposition that consisted of lipid droplets, myelin figures, and rare cholesterol clefts within histiocytes but also within epidermal keratinocytes, mast cells, pericytes, and lymphocytes. These findings are in keeping with the results of previous ultrastructural studies and suggest that the term extracellular cholesterosis is a misnomer; intracellular lipidosis would more accurately describe the lipid deposition.

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.