Autoantibody responses to cardiolipin and DNA in infancy: association with lymphocytic panniculitis

Emergence of panniculitis and haemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with chronic systemic lupus erythematosus

Panniculitis rarely occurs in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). When it occurs, it is thought to be mainly lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP). Here we describe a 32-year old Japanese woman with chronic SLE, who simultaneously presented facial lymphocytic lobular panniculitis and pancytopenia due to haemophagocytic syndrome. She showed several auto-antibodies against trilineage haematopoetic cells, an anti-cardiolipin antibody, and no evidence of viral infection, indicating that her haemophagocytic syndrome might be autoimmune-associated haemophagocytic syndrome. The panniculitis and haemophagocytic syndrome presented simultaneously, and these manifestations were dramatically improved with corticosteroid therapy; therefore, the lymphocytic lobular panniculitis could be linked to autoimmune-associated haemophagocytic syndrome in this case.

Panniculitis and lipodystrophy

Panniculitis and lipodystrophy are rare disorders of subcutaneous tissue. Recently the incidence of lipodystrophy has been increasing secondary to its appearance in patients with HIV. In this population, the lipodystrophy appears to be a direct consequence of drug therapy. A review of the available literature regarding pathogenesis and treatment options is discussed. The diagnosis of panniculitis has been hampered by problems. The recent literature has concentrated on ways of improving pathologic diagnostic yields, and new aids in diagnosis are presented.