Erythema induratum Bazin nach Lungentuberkulose

Summary: Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be directly demonstrated in lesions of cutaneous tuberculosis, but mostly could not be demonstrated in Tuberculids. These include erythema induratum of Bazin, papulonecrotic tuberculid as well as lichen scorphulosorum. Tuberculids result from the hematogenous spread of Mycobacteria tuberculosis in a person with a high degree of immunity. We report on a 63‐year‐old woman with erythema induratum of Bazin and pulmonary tuberculosis in medical history, with hightened tuberculin sensitivity and negative bacterial cultures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐specific DNA. After eight weeks only, the patient responded well to a course of antituberculosis therapy (isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampicin and pyracinamide) with marked resolution of the lesions. The tuberculous origin of erythema induratum of Bazin is still controversal, since mycobacteria cannot be cultured from skin lesions. Since the availability of PCR‐diagnostic, in some cases, but not in our patient, PCR was positive für Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐specific DNA. The good response to antituberculosis therapy is a further argument for the association of erythema induratum of Bazin and Mycobacterium tuberculosis     

Nodular tuberculid: a report of four patients

The tuberculids are hypersensitivity reactions to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and include papulonecrotic tuberculid (PNT), lichen scrofulosorum, erythema induratum of Bazin (EIB), and phlebitic tuberculid. Papulonecrotic tuberculid displays papulonecrotic lesions mostly on the extensor surfaces of the limbs. Histopathology shows necrosis, granulomatous inflammation (GI), and occasionally vasculitis, usually in the superficial dermis. Erythema induratum of Bazin shows nodulo-ulcerative lesions on the posterior aspect of the legs. Histopathology reveals a septolobular panniculitis, necrosis, GI, and vasculitis. The Mantoux test is strongly positive and associated tuberculosis (TB) may be present in both conditions. MTB cannot be demonstrated with a Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain or cultured. The polymerase chain reaction has demonstrated MTB DNA in PNT (50%) and EIB (25%). The tuberculids respond to full anti-TB treatment. We document four patients with nodules on the legs in whom the pathologic changes were situated in the deep dermis and adjacent subcutaneous fat. Nodular tuberculid (NT) is regarded as a suitable term for these lesions. All patients were female. Their ages were 19 months, 12 years, 17 years, and 5 years. All patients presented with nodules on the limbs. These nodules were approximately 1 cm in diameter, dull red or bluish-red, and nontender. Ulceration was not present. The number of nodules varied from a few to many. The Mantoux test was strongly positive in all the patients. Associated pulmonary TB was present in two patients. Histopathology showed GI (n = 4), vasculitis (n = 2), and coagulative necrosis (n = 2). A ZN stain was negative in each case. All patients received anti-TB treatment for 6 months [rifampicin (n = 4), isoniazid (n = 4), pyrazinamide (n = 4), and ethambutol (n = 2)]. At 12 months follow-up, skin and pulmonary lesions had resolved in all. Nodular tuberculid should be distinguished from arthropod bites and papular urticaria, dermal erythema multiforme, evolving vasculitis, evolving folliculitis, and erythema nodosum. Histopathologically NT should be distinguished from other causes of granulomatous vasculitis and GI with or without necrosis. In children with nodules on the limbs unresponsive to routine treatment, skin biopsy should be done to exclude NT. Nodular tuberculid represents a hybrid between PNT and EIB with characteristic clinicopathologic features and should be included in the classification of cutaneous TB.     

Bazin's erythema induratum: obsolete concept and terminology

In 1855 Ernest Bazin, who had noted hard, deep and violaceous nodules on the legs of young women, created his famous "erythema induratum" classified among the "erythematous benign scrofulides". Some forty years later, identical lesions were observed associated with tuberculosis; Colcott-Fox called them "érythème induré de Bazin", and ever since that time erythema induratum has been presumed to be of tuberculous origin. In 1900, Darier spoke of "tuberculids" for erythema induratum, and Bazin's "scrofulides" were abusively translated as "tuberculids". In the early 20th century many authors described such skin lesions without any evidence of tuberculosis and later on many papers tried to deny this "systematic" association, but the idea that erythema induratum is caused by tuberculosis still lingers on in 1990. There are many arguments against a tuberculous aetiology, but although very few cases in large series are really associated with tuberculosis many patients have been treated with specific antituberculous agents. For numerous authors, erythema induratum in "tuberculous by definition". In 1945 Montgomery et al. created the "nodular vasculitis" concept. The clinical features are very similar to those of erythema induratum but the disease is certainly not of tuberculous origin. This new pathology has been well developed by French and Spanish authors (Bureau, Duperrat, Vilanova). Despite repeated efforts to separate these two "entities" no clinical or histological data are available to distinguish between erythema induratum and nodular vasculitis. The real meaning of "erythema induratum" is far from being clear: in old publications and sometimes in recent textbooks one can find the same name followed by of Bazin, Whitfield or Hutchinson. Some authors call the disease tuberculids, and other believe it is a true cutaneous tuberculosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cutaneous tuberculosis: diagnosis and treatment

As we move into the 21st century, cutaneous tuberculosis has re-emerged in areas with a high incidence of HIV infection and multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, and the BCG vaccine cause tuberculosis involving the skin. True cutaneous tuberculosis lesions can be acquired either exogenously or endogenously, show a wide spectrum of morphology and M. tuberculosis can be diagnosed by acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stains, culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These lesions include tuberculous chancre, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, lupus vulgaris, scrofuloderma, orificial tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis, metastatic tuberculosis abscess and most cases of papulonecrotic tuberculid. The tuberculids, like cutaneous tuberculosis, show a wide spectrum of morphology but M. tuberculosis is not identified by AFB stains, culture or PCR. These lesions include lichen scrofulosorum, nodular tuberculid, most cases of nodular granulomatous phlebitis, most cases of erythema induratum of Bazin and some cases of papulonecrotic tuberculid. Diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis is challenging and requires the correlation of clinical findings with diagnostic testing; in addition to traditional AFB smears and cultures, there has been increased utilization of PCR because of its rapidity, sensitivity and specificity. Since most cases of cutaneous tuberculosis are a manifestation of systemic involvement, and the bacillary load in cutaneous tuberculosis is usually less than in pulmonary tuberculosis, treatment regimens are similar to that of tuberculosis in general. In the immunocompromised, such as an HIV infected patient with disseminated miliary tuberculosis, rapid diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment are paramount. Unfortunately, despite even the most aggressive efforts, the prognosis in these individuals is poor when multi-drug resistant mycobacterium are present. An increased awareness of the re-emergence of cutaneous tuberculosis will allow for the proper diagnosis and management of this increasingly common skin disorder.     

Erythema induratum of bazin

Erythema induratum of Bazin is a chronic, nodular eruption that usually occurs on the lower legs of young women. It has been regarded as a manifestation of tuberculin hypersensitivity, a type of tuberculid occurring on the legs, whereas nodular vasculitis represents the nontuberculous counterpart. The number of reports of erythema induratum of Bazin is decreasing in most developed countries in accordance with the decreased incidence of tuberculosis. The etiopathogenesis of erythema induratum of Bazin and its relation to tuberculosis are still controversial, because mycobacteria cannot be cultured from the skin lesions. Most authors currently consider erythema induratum of Bazin (nodular vasculitis) a multifactorial disorder with many different causes, tuberculosis being one of them.     

Simultaneous Occurrence of Papulonecrotic Tuberculid and Erythema Induratum in a Patient with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract: Although papulonecrotic tuberculid is an uncommon cutaneous manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the simultaneous occurrence of papulonecrotic tuberculid and erythema induratum is even rarer. Papulonecrotic tuberculid occurs predominantly in young adults and is characterized by eruptions of necrotizing papules that heal with varioliform scars. Histopathologic findings include wedge‐shaped necrosis of the dermis, poorly formed granulomatous infiltration, and vasculitis. Stainings and culture for acid‐fast bacilli from skin biopsies are usually negative for M. tuberculosis, although the eruptions resolve with antitubercular therapy. Few patients with papulonecrotic tuberculid, especially with concurrent occurrence of erythema induratum, have been reported in the English literature. Here we report a case of a 12‐year‐old girl with simultaneous occurrence of papulonecrotic tuberculid and erythema induratum accompanying pulmonary TB.     

Erythema induratum of Bazin in a 10‐year‐old boy

Erythema induratum of Bazin (EIB) is a form of tuberculid resulting from hypersensitivity to tuberculosis antigen. EIB occurs most commonly in middle‐aged women and is not typically seen in children. Here, we present a rare case of EIB, presenting as a chronic nodular panniculitis, in a 10‐year‐old Korean boy.     

Erythema induratum of Bazin as a type of tuberculid

We report three cases of patients with erythema induratum of Bazin who showed extreme tuberculin hypersensitivity reactions and a good therapeutic response to isoniazid. In the first patient satellite lesions with epithelioid granuloma formation developed 3 weeks after injection of purified protein derivative. In the second patient a high fever developed 1 day after injection of purified protein derivative, and the third patient blistered at the injection site; the histopathologic pattern was similar to erythema multiforme. Immunohistologic study of the epithelioid granulomas demonstrated a predominance of Leu-1--bearing, Leu-3a--bearing, and human lymphocyte antigen-DR-expressing cells. We conclude that erythema induratum of Bazin represents a tuberculid caused by heightened delayed-type hypersensitivity to components of tubercle bacilli released from latent foci of infection.     

Tuberculids as sentinel lesions of tuberculous epididymo-orchitis

BACKGROUND: Tuberculids are rarely associated with male genital tract tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculous epididymo-orchitis (TBEO) has been associated rarely with papulonecrotic tuberculid (PNT) but not with erythema induratum (EI) or the simultaneous occurrence of different tuberculids. METHODS: A retrospective assessment of tuberculids that occurred with underlying TBEO was carried out. RESULTS: Five patients, four with one and one with two skin biopsies, with clinical diagnoses of PNT (two), EI (one), impetigo (two) and calf ulcer (one), formed the study cohort. Histopathological evaluation confirmed PNT and EI in four and two skin biopsies, respectively. Two patients who returned for follow-up were commenced on anti-tuberculous therapy. All patients sought medical attention 3-34 months later for tender right-sided (two) and left-sided (three) testicular masses. Orchidectomy was undertaken following a poor clinical response to empirical treatment with trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. Pathological examination of the testis and epididymis confirmed TBEO. The patients were initiated on anti-tuberculous therapy. There was dramatic healing of the skin lesions. CONCLUSION: Tuberculids are a sentinel cutaneous manifestation of visceral TB and a valuable external audit of treatment compliance and response. Heightened recognition of and more rigorous genitourinary tract investigation are necessary to identify occult or asymptomatic TBEO as the underlying cause of tuberculids.     

与结核相关的脂膜炎研究进展

【摘要】 脂膜炎病因繁多而复杂,感染为重要病因之一,在欧美等结核低发区,以链球菌感染最为常见,但在结核高发地区如我国,结核杆菌感染是脂膜炎的重要因素,以Bazin硬红斑和结节性红斑最为常见。Bazin硬红斑与结核关系最为密切,常表现为下肢屈侧结节、斑块,可出现溃疡,病理表现为小叶性脂膜炎。结节性红斑可作为结核的早期症状出现,可作为结核的预测指标,常表现为双下肢伸侧红斑、结节,极少破溃,间隔性脂膜炎是其病理特征。Bazin硬红斑和结节性红斑的抗结核治疗常可取得理想效果。因此,明确结核分支杆菌与脂膜炎的关系,在脂膜炎的治疗及预后方面,尤其在结核高发地区有着重要意义。     

ERYTHEMA INDURATUM OE BAZIN

Background. There has been a long controversy about the tuberculous cause of erythema induratum, a chronic form of nodular vasculitis. Method. We investigated clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features of patients with erythema induratum who showed positive tuberculin hypersensitivity reactions or had associated active tuberculosis. Results. The ages of the 32 patients (M 7: W 25) ranged from 13 to 66 years (mean 36.6 years). All patients displayed recurrent crops of tender, painful, violaceous nodules or plaques. Most lesions presented on the legs, but they also occurred on thighs, feet, buttocks, and forearms. The skin lesions evolved for several weeks and healed with scarring and residual pigmentation. Twenty-two patients were treated with isoniazid alone and the remaining 10 patients received combinations of antituberculous drugs. Relapses were encountered in four patients who received isoniazid alone or stopped the medication against medical advice. In most biopsies, histologic examination revealed lobular or septolobular panniculitis with varying combinations of granulomatous inflammation, primary vasculitis, and necrosis. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed a preponderance of T lymphocytes, monocyte-macrophages, and Langerhans' cells, indicative of a type IV hypersensitivity reaction. Conclusion. Erythema induratum of Bazin has distinct clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features. Erythema induratum of Bazin should be considered as a separate entity of nodular vasculitis caused by latent foci of tuberculous infection.     

DIAGNOSIS OF CUTANEOUS TUBERCULOSIS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION USING A SPECIES-SPECIEIC GENE

Background. Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), especially cutaneous TBC, by conventional microbiologic methods is still a very laborious process and the results are usually inconclusive. Our purpose was to identify M. tuberculosis bacilli in uncultured clinical samples from skin lesions by means of the rapid, specific, and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods. The PCR, using a set of species-specific primers, was performed on biopsies and fluid secretions from lesions. Results. A positive amplification reaction was observed in three of the four samples studied. For one of the samples, the result was confirmed by a positive culture in Lowenstein-Jensen medium and for the other two, by molecular hybridization and the clinical course of the patients after treatment. Samples obtained from a patient with panniculitis of Christian-Weber and a normal skin biopsy were included as negative controls. Conclusions. We propose the PCR method as a tool for the diagnosis of cutaneous TBC. The presence of the M. tuberculosis in an erythema induratum of Bazin suggests a revision of the concept of this disease as a tuberculide reaction.     

Epidemiology of cutaneous tuberculosis in Japan: a retrospective study from 1906 to 2002

BACKGROUND: Interest in tuberculosis has recently been revived, especially in association with the onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In Japan, the incidence of tuberculosis has declined since the 1950s, but has shown a tendency to increase in the past 10 years. METHODS: To determine the patterns of prevalence of cutaneous tuberculosis in Japan, data for cutaneous tuberculosis cases recorded between 1906 and 2002 were obtained from the dermatologic clinic of Kyushu University Hospital. The population of tuberculosis-infected patients was stratified into groups encompassing 10-year periods. Each patient group was then classified as having true tuberculosis or tuberculid, as well as being classified by gender. The total number of patients with cutaneous tuberculosis analyzed was 1324. RESULTS: The incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis, both true tuberculosis and tuberculid, decreased between 1906 and 1935, increased between 1936 and 1955, and decreased again from 1955. The incidence of true tuberculosis was higher than that of tuberculid between 1906 and 1925. The incidence rates of true tuberculosis and tuberculid were equal from 1926 to 1945, and since 1946 the incidence of tuberculid has been higher than that of true tuberculosis. The incidence of tuberculid decreased between 1986 and 1995, but showed a dramatic increase between 1996 and 2000. The frequency of cutaneous tuberculosis was highest in the 10-49 year age group before 1980, but since 1981 has been highest in groups over 40 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis in Japan is decreasing and shows a shift towards older generations. However, there is an increase in the incidence of tuberculid, especially in elderly female patients.     

结核疹和分枝杆菌相关性研究进展

皮肤结核疹与分枝杆菌相互关系一直存有争议.一般认为结核疹是对结核分枝杆菌或其代谢产物的一种超敏反应,结核分枝杆菌不会直接引起结核疹.近年来,有研究在结核疹皮损中培养出非结核分枝杆菌,且聚合酶链反应可检出结核分枝杆菌和非结核分枝杆菌.综述目前各类结核疹与分枝杆菌相关性的研究进展,为结核疹病因探索和有效治疗的研究提供参考.     

Co-existence of atypical tuberculid with lupus vulgaris

Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) is an uncommon form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis accounting for ≤2% of mycobacterium tuberculosis cases and is more often reported from developing countries. Tuberculid, a cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to mycobacteria or its fragments, is a another rare cutaneous manifestation seen in association with tuberculosis of other organ systems including tuberculous lymphadenitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, etc. Co-occurrence of a tuberculid with CTB is extremely rare. Herein we report a childhood case of lupus vulgaris, a type of CTB, associated with an atypical presentation of tuberculid.     

Erythema induratum of Bazin in an infant after Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination

We report the first case of erythema induratum of Bazin (EIB) after Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination in an infant. The patient developed recurrent multiple erythematous and subcutaneous nodules on his legs 2 months after a BCG vaccination. He had no other symptoms or family history of tuberculosis (TB). Histopathological findings revealed a granulomatous lobular panniculitis. EIB often appears as a chronic, nodular eruptions that frequently occur on the lower legs of females with tuberculin hypersensitivity. To date, only a few cases of infants with EIB have been reported. There have been no clinical reports of EIB after BCG vaccination. Our case suggests that Mycobacterium bovis in the BCG vaccination may have caused EIB.     

An unusual case of vulval papulonecrotic tuberculid

The tuberculids are a group of rare cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions that occur in response to a distant focus of mycobacterial infection. Typically, Mantoux testing is strongly reactive, and clinical response to antituberculous treatment is rapid. The papulonecrotic subtype is one such clinical variant, consisting of multiple symmetrical papules, often with central necrosis, distributed preferentially over the trunk and limbs. Localized forms are rare, and mainly involve the genitalia in men. We describe a 26-year-old Indian woman with lymphatic and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in association with localized papulonecrotic tuberculid of the vulva, which resolved promptly on treating the underlying TB.     

Erythema induratum of Bazin and Poncet''s disease – successful treatment with antitubercular drugs

Erythema induratum of Bazin (EIB) is considered a tuberculide reaction and consists of recurrent painful nodules predominantly on the calves. Clinically it has common features with diseases like nodular vasculitis, perniosis, polyarteritis nodosa and erythema nodosum. Poncet's disease is a reactive arthritis that may accompany tuberculosis. We report a case of a young woman in which the simultaneous occurrence of erythema induratum of Bazin and Poncet's disease led to a clinical picture very similar to Löfgren's syndrome. The final diagnosis was obtained by polymerase chain reaction detection of mycobacterial DNA in a skin biopsy. A systemic therapy with tuberculostatic drugs led to the disappearance of symptoms. The presented case shows the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction diagnostics in EIB patients without other clinical signs of tuberculosis and a confusing combination of symptoms, and further confirms the presence of mycobacterial DNA in EIB lesions.     

CUTANEOUS TUBERCULOSIS IN HONG KONG: A 10-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background. Cutaneous tuberculosis was once a relatively common skin disease in Hong Kong. Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis was the commonest type. Because the last survey was carried out 25 years ago, it was thought necessary to find out the new incidence and pattern of this important disease in this locality. Methods. A 10-year (1983-1992) retrospective survey on the epidemiologic and clinicobacteriologic aspects of cutaneous tuberculosis had been done in the public sector of Hong Kong. The records of the confirmed cases were retrieved for statistical analysis. Results. A total of 176 cases are included in the final analysis. This represents 0.066% of all new skin cases seen during the 10-year period. Among these, 79.5% are erythema induratum, 6.3% lupus vulgaris, and 4.5% tuberculosis verrucosa cutis. They are further divided into true cutaneous tuberculosis (14.8%, n=26) and the tuberculide (85.2%, n=150). Among the patients with true tuberculosis, 42.3% had lupus vulgaris, 30.8% had tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, and 26.9% had scrofuloderma. Among the tuberculides, erythema induratum accounted for 93.3%. Conclusions. Cutaneous tuberculosis is now uncommon in Hong Kong. Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis is no longer the commonest type in Hong Kong as described in some textbooks. Erythema induratum is now the most common among the total cases and lupus vulgaris is the most common among the true cutaneous forms of tuberculosis.     

Evolution of cutaneous tuberculosis over the past 30 years in a tertiary hospital on the European Mediterranean coast

Background. There have been few studies on cutaneous tuberculosis (TB) in Europe in recent years. Objective. To retrospectively analyse the evolution of the various types of cutaneous TB over the past 30 years in an adult population in Spain. Methods. Patients with cutaneous TB diagnosed between 1981 and 2011 at Bellvitge Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, were included in the study. Chest radiography was performed for all patients, and the presence of TB elsewhere in the body was excluded when clinically suspected. Results. In total, 36 patients (15 male, 21 female, mean age 53.72 years) were diagnosed with cutaneous TB. There were 22 patients with lupus vulgaris (LV), 4 with scrofuloderma, 4 with miliary TB, 3 with tuberculous abscess/ulcer, and 1 each with orificial TB, warty TB, and an iatrogenic inoculation from underlying visceral focus. Of the 36 patients, 16 (38.88%) had TB presenting simultaneously in other organs. Mycobacterial culture from skin biopsies was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in 17 of the 32 cases tested (53.12%), whereas stains for acid‐fast bacilli in skin samples were positive in only 3 of 36 patients (8.33%). Conclusions. Although the number of cases of cutaneous TB diagnosed yearly in our population has declined over the past 30 years, cutaneous TB still exists in Europe, and its incidence is expected to increase, owing to the increased immigration into the continent in recent years. The most common type of cutaneous TB in our adult population was LV. It should be noted that despite being considered a benign form of TB, cutaneous TB can be accompanied by TB in internal organs, and severe complications can occur, such as the development of squamous cell carcinoma in long‐lasting lesions.