Case report on a patient with lupus panniculitis

Lupus Erythematosus Profundus with Multiple Overlying Cutaneous Ulcerations: A Rare Case

Lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP) is a rare subset of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE), with a reported incidence of 1-3% in all LE cases. The most common cutaneous clinical presentation includes indurated plaques or subcutaneous nodules with an overlying normal skin. The clinical findings range from skin redness to features of CCLE, such as scaling, follicular plugging, and atrophy. Ulceration is rare and occurs in 28% of all LEP cases. We present a case report of LEP with multiple cutaneous ulcers on the right cheek and scalp accompanied by cicatricial alopecia. No other systemic manifestations were noted. Histopathological examination revealed periadipocyte, perivascular, and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, eosinophils, and plasma cells, supporting the diagnosis of LEP. The topical treatments given to the patient were sunscreen, 2% mupirocin cream, and wound dressing with dialkyl carbamoyl chloride (DACC). The patient was also treated systemically with oral corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine. Clinical improvements were observed in the 3rd month of follow-up, and ulcer healing resulted in atrophic scars and fading erythematous macules. LEP is seldom associated with systemic or discoid lupus erythematosus. This occurs twice as frequently as a distinct entity does. Diagnosis accuracy plays an important role in determining the appropriate wound care, topical, and systemic treatments for LEP patients with multiple overlying cutaneous ulcerations.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of refractory lupus profundus

Lupus profundus, often known as lupus panniculitis, is a rare form of persistent cutaneous lupus erythematosus. It usually manifests as painful plaques or nodules that can ulcerate and cause atrophy and scarring. It may respond to topical treatments and antimalarials, although treatment might be difficult at times, necessitating immunosuppressive medications. A 36-year-old woman from the United Arab Emirates presented with multiple painful disfiguring nodules involving the face and shoulders. The disfiguring skin nodules were resistant to systemic glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclosporine, but they significantly improved with monthly intravenous immunoglobulin over a 6-month period.

Progression of Discoid Lupus to Lupus Panniculitis: An Unexplained and Likely Underreported Phenomenon

Lupus erythematosus is a multiorgan disorder with a wide variance of clinical presentations. Disease processes are generally divided into systemic or cutaneous categories, with cutaneous findings being further subdivided into acute, subacute, and chronic variants. The chronic form of cutaneous lupus itself has multiple subsets. We present the case of a young woman who developed two forms of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) and, eventually, progressive systemic symptoms.

Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Management of Lupus Erythematosus Panniculitis

Lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) is a rare variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). It is characterized by the presence of a chronic inflammatory process involving the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissues. It commonly presents as deep indurated nodules or sharply demarcated plaques. Antimalarial medications are considered first-line therapy for most cases of LEP while systemic corticosteroids are saved for more resistant lesions. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is made up of concentrated polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractionated from the blood of healthy blood donors. Nowadays, it is used for the treatment of numerous autoimmune and systemic inflammatory diseases. In this case, we report the case of a female with multiple LEP and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) lesions refractory to multiple standard therapy modalities that responded dramatically to IVIG.

Panniculitis in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicentric cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate prevalence, clinical manifestations, laboratory abnormalities, treatment and outcome in a multicenter cohort of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) patients with and without panniculitis.

METHODS

Panniculitis was diagnosed due to painful subcutaneous nodules and/or plaques in deep dermis/subcutaneous tissues and lobular/mixed panniculitis with lymphocytic lobular inflammatory infiltrate in skin biopsy. Statistical analysis was performed using Bonferroni correction(p < 0.004).

RESULTS

Panniculitis was observed in 6/847(0.7%) cSLE. Painful subcutaneous erythematosus and indurated nodules were observed in 6/6 panniculitis patients and painful subcutaneous plaques in 4/6. Generalized distribution was evidenced in 3/6 and localized in upper limbs in 2/6 and face in 1/6. Cutaneous hyperpigmentation and/or cutaneous atrophy occurred in 5/6. Histopathology features showed lobular panniculitis without vasculitis in 5/6(one of them had concomitant obliterative vasculopathy due to antiphospholipid syndrome) and panniculitis with vasculitis in 1/6. Comparison between cSLE with panniculitis and 60 cSLE without panniculitis with same disease duration [2.75(0-11.4) vs. 2.83(0-11.8) years,p = 0.297], showed higher frequencies of constitutional involvement (67% vs. 10%,p = 0.003) and leukopenia (67% vs. 7%,p = 0.002). Cutaneous atrophy and hyperpigmentation occurred in 83% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Panniculitis is a rare skin manifestation of cSLE occurring in the first three years of disease with considerable sequelae. The majority of patients have concomitant mild lupus manifestations.

Lupus profundus limited to a site of trauma: Case report and review of the literature

Lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP) is a rare form of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. We report on a case of a 56-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with a single, persistent, painful rash on the left hip and lateral aspect of the left upper thigh, which had been present for 2.5 years. The patient had a history of previous injury to this area before the rash started. Clinical findings showed an inflamed, hyperpigmented, and indurated plaque with a linear skin invagination and no associated systemic symptoms. A skin biopsy test result confirmed the diagnosis of LEP and the clinical and laboratory examinations ruled out systemic lupus erythematosus. After 2 months of treatment with methotrexate 20 mg weekly and 1 month of prednisolone 7.5 mg daily, the skin rash improved considerably. We also present a brief review of the epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, histopathology, laboratory findings, differential diagnosis, and treatment of LEP.

Clinical characteristics of cutaneous lupus erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

Lupus erythematosus (LE) shows a wide variety of clinical manifestations, skin involvement being one of the most important.

AIM

To analyze the clinical presentation of cutaneous variants of lupus erythematosus in terms of skin lesion spectrum and extracutaneous involvement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 64 patients with cutaneous LE (CLE) were included. The study was based on the "Core Set Questionnaire" developed by the European Society of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (EUSCLE). Clinical severity of skin lesions was evaluated with the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI). All results were subjected to statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Fifteen (23.4%) patients had an acute CLE (ACLE), 26 (40.6%) subacute CLE (SCLE) and 21 (32.8%) chronic CLE (CCLE). Two (3.2%) individuals only demonstrated urticarial vasculitis as a cutaneous manifestation of LE and these patients were excluded. Patients with ACLE were characterized by the earliest onset of the disease (mean age of 31.9 ±15.0 years; p < 0.001). On average, 4.8 ±1.8 criteria of systemic LE were found in the ACLE group compared to 2.7 ±1.3 criteria in SCLE and 2.5 ±1.5 criteria in CCLE (p < 0.001). The highest activity of skin lesions according to CLASI was found in the SCLE group (p = 0.002). On the other hand, the most severe skin damage was observed in CCLE (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Each variant of CLE differs significantly from the others in respect of various aspects of clinical manifestations. Due to a number of different variants of LE skin lesions, a unified classification of CLE still remains a challenge.