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.     

Erythema nodosum

Erythema nodosum is the most frequent clinicopathologic variant of panniculitis. The process is a cutaneous reaction that may be associated with a wide variety of disorders, including infections, sarcoidosis, rheumatologic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, medications, autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, and malignancies. Erythema nodosum typically manifest by the sudden onset of symmetrical, tender, erythematous, warm nodules and raised plaques usually located on the lower limbs. Often the lesions are bilaterally distributed. At first, the nodules show a bright red color, but within a few days they become livid red or purplish and, finally, they exhibit a yellow or greenish appearance, taking on the look of a deep bruise. Ulceration is never seen, and the nodules heal without atrophy or scarring. Histopathologically, erythema nodosum is the stereotypical example of a mostly septal panniculitis with no vasculitis. The septa of subcutaneous fat are always thickened and variously infiltrated by inflammatory cells that extend to the periseptal areas of the fat lobules. The composition of the inflammatory infiltrate in the septa varies with age of the lesion. In early lesions edema, hemorrhage, and neutrophils are responsible for the septal thickening, whereas fibrosis, periseptal granulation tissue, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells are the main findings in late stage lesions of erythema nodosum. A histopathologic hallmark of erythema nodosum is the presence of the so-called Miescher's radial granulomas, which consist of small, well-defined nodular aggregations of small histiocytes arranged radially around a central cleft of variable shape. Treatment of erythema nodosum should be directed to the underlying associated condition, if identified. Usually, nodules of erythema nodosum regress spontaneously within a few weeks, and bed rest is often sufficient treatment. Aspirin, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as oxyphenbutazone, indomethacin or naproxen, and potassium iodide may be helpful drugs to enhance analgesia and resolution. Systemic corticosteroids are rarely indicated in erythema nodosum and before these drugs are administered an underlying infection should be ruled out.     

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。     

Exploring the combination of SSKI and topical heparin in a case of erythema nodosum migrans

Erythema nodosum migrans (subacute nodular migratory panniculitis) is an uncommon type of panniculitis characterized by migrating subcutaneous nodules or plaque on the lower extremity. There are a very few cases of Erythema nodosum migrans reported and thus its appropriate treatment modality is not defined. We describe a case of a 30‐year‐old male with idiopathic erythema nodosum migrans which was manifest centrifugally spreading, slightly morpheaform erythematous plaque on the lower left leg. The patient was diagnosed initially and treated as a case of furunculosis with poor clinical response. The skin biopsy showed features consistent with subacute nodular panniculitis. Saturated Solution of Potassium Iodide along with topical Heparin successfully treated the patient, when the conventional treatment modalities failed. In a morpheaform centrifugally expanded plaque, erythema nodosum migrans should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis, especially in the lower extremities in cases of unknown etiology.     

Erythema nodosum and oral contraceptives

Erythema nodosum may be related to a variety of diseases or possibly to drug therapy. Oral contra(notreadable) have only rarely been implicated in the literature, but a number of cases have been reported the Committee on Safety of Medicines in which erythema nodosum; appears to have been related contraceptives, in fact, they are the drugs most commonly reported to this Committee as associated (notreadable) the disorder. A detailed case report is presented in which erythema nodosum is thought to have (notreadable) precipitated by an oral contraceptive. Whilst several groups of drugs have been implicated in its aetiology, a causative relationship between a drug and erythema nodosum is often questionable. Oral contraceptives and erythema nodosum have been linked by several authors (Holcomb, 1965; Matz, 1967; Baden & Holcomb, 1968; Savel, Madison & Meeker, 1970). Savel et al. (1970) in fact described not only erythema nodosum, but also erythema multiforme in their two patients taking oral contraceptives.     

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.     

33例脂膜炎与结核感染相关性分析

 目的 了解不同类型的脂膜炎患者与结核感染的相关性。方法 纳入2019年1月—2021年12月就诊于常德市第一人民医院33例脂膜炎患者的临床资料，对其临床特征、病理特征、与结核感染的相关性、治疗情况及随访情况进行分析。结果 ①33例脂膜炎患者中,结节性红斑24例，硬红斑9例，男女比例为1 ∶ 4.5，平均年龄46岁，平均病程10个月。②临床发病部位集中在四肢，均伴有疼痛。30例（90.91%)表现为红斑、结节、肿胀，其中1例硬红斑（3.03%）出现溃疡。6例(18.18%)出现发热、咳嗽、盗汗。2例硬红斑患者同时伴有或先后出现丘疹性坏死性结核疹，2例结节性红斑患者伴有全身多关节疼痛。③22例（66.67%,包括9例硬红斑、13例结节性红斑)伴结核分支杆菌潜伏感染（LTBI）。硬红斑患者结核感染阳性率高于结节性红斑患者（P＝0.020）。④皮损组织病理表现为间隔性脂膜炎11例、小叶性脂膜炎3例、混合性脂膜炎19例。与结核感染相关的22例脂膜炎患者病理下多可见上皮细胞肉芽肿、多核巨细胞以及干酪样坏死，其余11例均可见真皮层血管周围及脂肪间隔淋巴细胞浸润，且均未见上皮样肉芽肿及多核巨细胞。33例患者抗酸染色、PAS染色、直接免疫荧光均未见阳性表现。⑤22例与结核感染相关患者中，接受抗结核治疗15例，治愈率为68.18%，拒绝接受抗结核治疗患者7例，治愈率为14.29%。11例结核感染不相关患者采用免疫调节联合治疗，治愈率为100%。所有患者均未出现严重药物不良反应。结论 硬红斑患者的结核感染阳性率比结节性红斑患者高。在结核感染相关的脂膜炎患者中，接受抗结核治疗者治愈率比免疫调节联合治疗者高；对于未发现结核感染证据的结节性红斑，免疫调节治疗可能有效。结节性红斑患者的发病原因可能与结核感染相关。在结核高发地区，结节性红斑患者完善相关筛查极其重要。     

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     

Capsaicin‐induced neurogenic inflammation in the skin in patients with symptoms induced by odorous chemicals

Background: Intradermal injection of capsaicin induces the axonal release of neuropeptides, vasodilatation and flare, e.g. neurogenic inflammation. The spatial profile of neurogenic inflammation in the skin has been studied in various experimental models. Polarization spectroscopy imaging introduced recently may be used for the quantitative assessment of the temporal profile of neurogenic inflammation expressed as erythema intensity. Purpose: In the present study, we aimed to compare capsaicin‐induced erythema intensity with the flare area in patients with symptoms induced by odorous chemicals, thereby comparing the temporal and spatial profiles of neurogenic inflammation. Methods: Sixteen patients fulfilling Cullen's criteria for multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and 15 eczema (EC) patients with airway symptoms elicited by odorous chemicals were compared with 29 age‐matched, healthy controls. Participants were administered two intradermal injections of capsaicin 3.3 and 33 μM. Erythema intensity was measured by polarization spectroscopy imaging and flare response was quantified by visual inspection. Results: Erythema intensity and flare area did not differ between patients and controls, and they were not correlated. Erythema intensity and flare area showed a dose‐dependent increase (P<0.05). Erythema intensity increased with age at 3.3 μM but not at 33 μM capsaicin, whereas the flare area increased with age at both concentrations (P<0.05). Conclusion: Capsaicin‐induced erythema intensity and visual flare were normal in patients with MCS and EC patients with airway symptoms from odorous chemicals. Polarized light spectroscopy was a useful method for the measurement of the rapid temporal changes in erythema of experimental reactions.     

Erythema nodosum

Erythema nodosum is the most frequent clinicopathologic variant of panniculitis. The process is a cutaneous reaction that may be associated with a wide variety of disorders, including infections, sarcoidosis, rheumatologic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, medications, autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, and malignancies. Histopathologically, erythema nodosum is the stereotypical example of a mostly septal panniculitis with no vasculitis. The composition of the inflammatory infiltrate in the septa varies with age of the lesion. Treatment of erythema nodosum should be directed to the underlying associated condition, if identified.     

Septal granulomatous panniculitis: comparison of the pathology of erythema nodosum migrans (migratory panniculitis) and chronic erythema nodosum

Fifty-eight cases of septal granulomatous panniculitis were reviewed; 14 cases were diagnosed as erythema nodosum migrans (migratory panniculitis) and 36 as chronic erythema nodosum on the basis of clinical and histopathologic features. Erythema nodosum migrans was characterized by markedly thickened and fibrotic septae, marked capillary proliferation (like granulation tissue), and massive granulomatous reaction (with giant cells) along the borders of the widened septa. Hemorrhage was rare, and phlebitis was not seen. Chronic erythema nodosum showed mild septal change, little fibrosis, and lymphohistiocytic perivascular inflammation with only focal granulomatous formation. Phlebitis and hemorrhage were common. The condition termed erythema nodosum migrans has many of the same clinical features as chronic erythema nodosum, and we think this term is preferable to migratory panniculitis. We believe that there are sufficient clinical and histopathologic features to justify considering erythema nodosum migrans as a unique clinicopathologic entity.     

Recurrent erythema nodosum, arthritis and IgA nephropathy

Erythema nodosum and IgA nephropathy are nosologic entities with an immunologic background. IgA nephropathy is a specific disease of the kidneys, while erythema nodosum may be associated with other illnesses. We report a unique case in which intermittent hematuria due to IgA nephropathy was superimposed on recurrent attacks of erythema nodosum and arthritis. A common pathophysiology is suggested.     

结节性红斑的诊疗进展

结节性红斑是以皮下脂肪炎症反应为特征的炎症性疾病,临床表现为双下肢疼痛性红斑。病因主要包括特发性、感染、自身免疫性疾病、妊娠、药物、肿瘤等。相关检查包括皮损活检、血沉、抗“O”、结核试验、胸片、血常规等。应该对症对因治疗。如非甾体抗炎药、糖皮质激素、碘化钾、沙利度胺等免疫抑制剂可以用于严重难治性病例。中医中药治疗及物理治疗也有较好疗效。     

Inflammatory Nodules of the Lower Legs: A Clinical and Histological Analysis of 134 Cases in Korea

We analysed 134 Korean cases with inflammatory nodules of the lower legs on the basis of clinicopathological findings, responsiveness to various therapeutic agents, and clinical course. There were 53 cases of erythema induratum (EI), 18 of erythema nodosum (EN), 40 of EN-like lesions of Behçet's disease, 15 of other entities, including superficial migratory thrombophlebitis, cutaneous periarteritis nodosa, sarcoidosis, malignant lymphoma, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and parasitosis, and eight unclassified cases. The unclassified group was composed of a spectrum of diseases with clinicopathologic features ranging between those typical of EN and EI. The present study revealed that the profiles of diseases featuring inflammatory nodules of the lower legs in Korea differed from those found in other areas. These geographic and demographic differences should be kept in mind when managing a patient with inflammatory nodules of the lower legs.     

New observations in the histopathology of erythema nodosum.

Erythema nodosum presents variable clinical and histologic patterns of response in the vessels, septa, and fat lobules of the subcutaneous tissue. Acute or chronic phlebitis with hemorrhage may be commonly observed; acute panniculitis is observed in foci, but at time it may be the principal histologic feature; lymphocytic infiltration of fat lobules is often found, and lymphoid nodules are not infrequent; rarely, chronic granulomatous lesions involve septa or fat lobules; and proliferative lipocyte response may be observed. Because these variable histologic patterns may be coexistent, excision biopsy and multiple sections are necessary to recognize them. The variable histologic features correlate with the different clinical forms: acute nodular, chronic nodular, migrating plaque lesion, cellulitis, and the rate suppurative form. This variety of panniculus response in erythema nodosum can be explained on the basis of host-tissue response to a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to an antigenic stimulus.     

Erythema Induratum with Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Report of Three Cases

Three cases of erythema induratum which occurred in the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis are described. The cutaneous lesions were violaceous, indurated nodules on both lower legs above the malleoli. Histologically, tuberculoid granuloma with caseation necrosis was found in one case; necrotizing vasculitis was the prominent finding in other two cases. The erythema induratum promptly responded to antituberculous therapy. We believe that, in light of these cases, the association between erythema induratum and infection with tubercle bacilli should be re-emphasized.     

Erythema papulatum centrifugum and new diagnostic criteria

Erythema papulatum centrifugum (EPC), also known as erythema papulosa semicircularis recidivans (EPSR), is distinct from eczema and other well-described figurate erythemas characterised by annular erythematous lesions. We report 7 cases of EPC and propose new diagnostic criteria including the following: (i) EPC is characterised by single or multiple recurrent expanding annular or semi annular erythema with central regression, surrounded by tiny red papules; (ii) the lesions regularly relapse and resolve; (iii) the histopathologic feature shows superficial perivascular inflammation with or without mild inflammation around sweat glands in the mid dermis and (iv) patients lack other associated cutaneous or internal abnormalities.     

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.     

Diagnosis: erythema nodosum or not?

Erythema nodosum is the final common pathway to a myriad of insults and is thought to be a hypersensitivity reaction centered in the subcutis. To recognize the histological spectrum of erythema nodosum, one must be aware of the morphologic chronology of the disease (early, fully developed, late) and its clinical variants (erythema nodosum migrans). This article reviews the range of changes that can be seen in this prototype of a septal panniculitis and describes the diversity that may be accepted in the diagnosis. Differential diagnoses at each stage of disease development are discussed. The criteria elaborated should assist the pathologist in answering the clinician's query, "Erythema nodosum, or not?"     

Three cases of erythema nodosum associated with Yersinia enterocolitica infection

Three cases of erythema nodosum associated with Yersinia enterocolitica infection were reported. They were diagnosed as Yersinosis following isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica from the feces and from serological investigation. The diagnosis was supported by the fact that Yersinia enterocolitica could be separated from the feces at an early stage of infection and that the serum agglutination titer for Yersinia enterocolitica increased within a month of infection. Clinically, the erythema nodosum preceded by abdominal pain and/or diarrhea was a complication of Yersinosis.