Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus With Histopathologic Changes Restricted to the Acrosyringia

Abstract

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus may present as an isolated condition or as part of a systemic disease, being acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, the skin manifestation, more closely related to systemic involvement. The histopathologic findings may show a wide variety of features, which show overlap among different clinical presentations. The exclusive involvement of the eccrine units, including eccrine coils, dermal ducts, and acrosyringia is extremely uncommon. We present the second case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with histopathologic involvement mostly located in the acrosyringia. The patient was a 37-year-old male with multiorgan failure who, in the context of flare-up of SLE, presented cutaneous lesions consisting of erythematous and edematous macules and plaques on the face, arms, and anterior chest. Histopathologic examination demonstrated necrotic keratinocytes confined to the acrosyringia as the main finding. It was associated with sparse inflammatory infiltrate in the superficial dermis, mostly composed of lymphocytes. The epidermis between the acrosyringia was spared. Our case was clinically almost identical to the one previously described, being a patient with a severe SLE and widespread cutaneous involvement and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. The main differential diagnosis, both clinically and histopathologically was drug-related erythema multiforme. Clinicopathologic correlation is necessary to establish a correct diagnosis. SLE with histopathologic involvement mostly of the acrosyringia is a rare histopathologic variant of the disorder.