Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis: A Proliferation of Macrophages With Tropism for Skin and Joints, Part I

Abstract

The authors present part I of a review of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis, a rare systemic proliferative disease of histiocytes of unknown cause. It is clinically characterized by cutaneous and mucosal nodules and by osteoarticular lesions. The disease occurs in outbreaks that progress in severity, with spontaneous regression, but usually leaving incapacitating arthritis and disfiguring facial lesions. The authors discuss the historical, epidemiologic, and clinical aspects of this disease.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis and urologic carcinomas: a possible paraneoplastic association

“…MR was initially described in 1954. It is now considered a form of histiocytosis that is characterized by papulonodular cutaneous lesions and destructive, deforming, symmetrical arthritis 1–3 . Lesions of the skin have a predilection for the hands with a characteristic periungual ‘coral‐bead’ appearance.…”

Papular xanthomas and erosive arthritis in a 3 year old girl, is this a new MRH variant?

“…MRH is a systemic non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis first described in 1937 by Weber and Freudenthal [ 1 ]. Later, Goltz and Laymon coined the term multicentric reticulohistiocytosis [ 1 ]. About 200 cases have been reported since first described, but only about 10 of these cases had onset in childhood.…”

“…MRH is predominantly a condition of the adult population, and it is more common in females with a ratio of about 1.85 females per 1 male [ 1 ]. MRH is characterized by severe destructive bilateral and symmetric arthritis, mainly affecting the interphalangeal joints, shoulders, wrists, and hips.…”

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: an example of the value of skin biopsy in joint disease

“…1 It is a systemic condition characterised by papulonodular cutaneous lesions and a polyarthritis which can lead to leonine facies and an incapacitating arthritis. 2 It has associations with autoimmune conditions, hyperlipidaemia, and malignancy. Co-existent autoimmune diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, Sjogren's syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis, systemic sclerosis and myopathy have been identified in 6-17% of cases, and an association with hyperlipidaemia has been described in 30-58%.…”