ABSTRACT

Lupus panniculitis (lupus erythematosus profundus or Kaposi-Irgang disease) is an uncommon form of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus that is characterised by chronic, recurrent pannicular inflammation. The disease occurs mostly in middle-aged females as deep, erythematous subcutaneous nodules and plaques that heal with li-poatrophy. The condition commonly involves the face, proximal upper and lower extremities. The pathophysiologi-cal mechanism responsible for the development of lupus panniculitis is not fully understood. Systemic treatment options include hydroxychloroquine, immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids or cyclosporine and dapsone. We report on a nine-year-old girl presenting with lupus panniculitis with typical clinical and histopathological find-ings in whom we achieved good results with antimalarial therapy. Dermatological examination revealed multiple indurated plaques on the face and atrophic subcutaneous nodules were noted on the upper and lower extremities. Other manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus were not detected in our case. We wish to point out the rare presentation in a child of this uncommon clinical entity. (Gazi Med J 2012; 23: 33-5)