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Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

October, 2019, Volume 21, 5, pp 16176-16178

Review Article

Review Article

Update and Review of the Treatment of Erythema Elevatum Diutinum

Mohammed Al Abadie1*, Faris Oumeish1, Mohammed Al-Rubaye1 and Anjam Tariq2

Author Affiliations

1Department of Dermatology, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, United Kingdom

2Department of Genitourinary Medicine, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, United Kingdom

Received: October 03, 2019 | Published: October 10, 2019

Corresponding author: Mohammed Al Abadie, PhD, FRCP Consultant & Director of Dermatology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Wolverhampton, UK

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2019.21.003662

Abstract

It presents as brown to red-purplish nodules, papules and plaques on the extensor surface of the extremities. It may present with features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis at the early stage, while at later stage it shows fibrosis and granulation tissue. Dapsone is currently the most effective treatment. Other therapies include surgical excision, methotrexate, colchicine, antibiotics and steroids. This paper will present a review of treatment of EED along with our experience in treating an HIV positive patient with EED.

Introduction

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare chronic leukocytoclastic vasculitis dermatosis of unknown aetiology that was described by Hutchinson in 1888 and in 1894 was named by Radcliffe- Crocker and Williams .It presents as brown to red-purplish nodules, papules and plaques on the extensor surface of the extremities [1]. It tends to present earlier in patients diagnosed with HIV and most commonly presents between the 4th to 6th decade although it can present at any age and has no racial predilection [2]. The most common associated symptom is arthralgia [2]. Skin biopsy is important to make a diagnosis of (EED).Dapsone is currently the most effective treatment [2]. Other therapies include surgical excision, methotrexate, colchicine, antibiotics and steroids.

Treatment

In a review of 66 cases of EED treated with dapsone monotherapy lead to complete resolution in 80 % of the cases [2]. A Agusti-Mejias et al reported a 68 year female patient that presented with vesiculobullous lesions mimicking a vesiculobullous disease on the basis of clinical appearance and histology a diagnosis of EED was made and the patient was treated with dapsone ,100 mg/d and hydroxychloroquine 200 mg/d with great clinical improvement over 4-5 weeks [3]. P smith et al reported a 35 female patient that presented with multiple painful progressively increasing raised blistering lesions on the dorsa of the feet for 8 months and 2 firm non tender nodules on her left elbow after a skin biopsy was taken that confirmed EED the patient was treated with dapsone 100 mg/d in combination with clobetasol propionate and fusidic acid cream twice daily to be applied to the lesions which helped flatten the lesion [4].

K Farsinejad et al reported a 77-year-old woman who developed EED that had an atypical presentation on the palms, soles, back of the hands and feet. She presented with 2-year history of reddish– brown nodules and plaques on the back of fingers and verrucous plaques on the palms and soles, reminiscent of confluent warty lesions. Histopathological findings and the fact that the patient had raised level of IgA confirmed the diagnosis of EED with IgA gammopathy. The patient was treated with dapsone 50mg/d after 5 months of treatment the lesions decreased in size and number and after 1 year of treatment lesions on the palms and soles cleared and the plaques on the back of the fingers and toes were by far smaller [5]. E Soubeiran et al reported a 77-year old man with a 6 month history of nodules on the extensor surfaces of the fingers and elbows and later on developed erythematous nodules on the right thigh. Histology and clinical findings confirmed the diagnosis of EED. Treatment with steroids was initiated but there was no improvement, later on dapsone therapy at high doses failed to bring any improvement so therapy was discontinued after 6 months so the last resort was to excise some of the nodules and use a splitskin graft.

The lack of response to treatment with dapsone and steroids could be explained by the advanced stage of the disease and significant fibrosis in the nodules [6]. In our experience we treated an HIV positive patient who had a biopsy proven Erythema Elevatum diutinum initially with Dapsone 50 mg od which lead to some improvement for 2 weeks but not change after. The dose was increased to 100 mg od after two months for next nine months. The lesions were gradually getting smaller with up to 50% improvement. Upon increasing the dose of Dapsone to 100/150 mg on alternate days it had a significant impact with 75% improvement (Figure 1), despite the fact that in HIV there is advanced fibrosis and most cases might not respond to dapsone. EED with oral ulceration was treated with a combination of colchicine 500 micrograms 3 times daily, dapsone 50 mg on alternate days and mycofenolate mofetil 1.5 g [7]. C Mahabir et al reported a 60-year-old African American with a 5 year history of multiple growing nodules on the elbow and metacarpophalangeal joints. He was unresponsive to multiple intralesional steroid injections, later on histopathology confirmed EED unfortunately due to the patient having a low level of G6PD and sulfa allergy he was not a candidate for dapsone, so the patient underwent multiple surgical excisions and healed with complications [8].

Figure 1:

G Raghurama Rao reported a 52 year old HIV positive female on ART (Zidovudine +Lamivudine+ Nevirapine) for seven years who developed multiple dusky red nodules and plaques over the feet, ankles ,soles, shins, knees, and elbows. Two biopsies were done, and histopathology confirmed EED. The patient initially was treated with dapsone 100mg/day, and after the first 2 weeks the majority of the lesions resolved. But dapsone had to be stopped because the patient developed a hypersensitivity reaction to dapsone. So, after 4 weeks Colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily was administered instead of dapsone. The response to colchicine was slow with regression being noted in smaller lesions, while larger lesions were still in the process of regression [9].

Histology Review

Histologically EED could present variably depending on the evolutionary stage of the disease. It may present with features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis at the early stage (Figure 2) while at later stage it shows fibrosis and granulation tissue.

Figure 2:

Conclusion

EED is a rare skin condition, were treatment found to be challenging. A review of all treatment given showed Dapsone to be more effective than other treatment options. The higher dose of Dapsone seems to have an impact on response. A possible combination of treatment in the future might give even better response, again the earlier the patient is treated seems to respond better.

References

Review Article

Update and Review of the Treatment of Erythema Elevatum Diutinum

Mohammed Al Abadie1*, Faris Oumeish1, Mohammed Al-Rubaye1 and Anjam Tariq2

Author Affiliations

1Department of Dermatology, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, United Kingdom

2Department of Genitourinary Medicine, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, United Kingdom

Received: October 03, 2019 | Published: October 10, 2019

Corresponding author: Mohammed Al Abadie, PhD, FRCP Consultant & Director of Dermatology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Wolverhampton, UK

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2019.21.003662

Abstract

It presents as brown to red-purplish nodules, papules and plaques on the extensor surface of the extremities. It may present with features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis at the early stage, while at later stage it shows fibrosis and granulation tissue. Dapsone is currently the most effective treatment. Other therapies include surgical excision, methotrexate, colchicine, antibiotics and steroids. This paper will present a review of treatment of EED along with our experience in treating an HIV positive patient with EED.