BACKGROUND: Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a disease rarely encountered in Canada. It is characterized by multiple remissions and recurrences, often requires long-term treatment, and can result in debilitating sequelae.
OBJECTIVE: To promote rapid recognition and adequate therapy for ENL.
METHODS: Case report of a 39-year-old man diagnosed with an ENL. The clinical and histopathologic features, treatment provided, and response to treatment are detailed in this article.
RESULTS: ENL presented itself as painful cutaneous lesions on the face and limbs, bilateral paresthesia of the fourth and fifth fingers, and systemic symptoms. Prednisone 40 mg daily for a week and then 60 mg daily for another week reduced the lesions by 80% and the pain by 50%. Although prednisone 60 mg daily was continued for one more week and then stopped, thalidomide was started at a dose of 300 mg daily for 4 weeks and then reduced gradually, which led to complete resolution.
CONCLUSION: At the 7(1/2)-month follow-up, the patient remained completely asymptomatic.
BT - Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20338126?dopt=Abstract DA - 2010 Mar-Apr DO - 10.2310/7750.2009.08094 IS - 2 J2 - J Cutan Med Surg LA - eng N2 -BACKGROUND: Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a disease rarely encountered in Canada. It is characterized by multiple remissions and recurrences, often requires long-term treatment, and can result in debilitating sequelae.
OBJECTIVE: To promote rapid recognition and adequate therapy for ENL.
METHODS: Case report of a 39-year-old man diagnosed with an ENL. The clinical and histopathologic features, treatment provided, and response to treatment are detailed in this article.
RESULTS: ENL presented itself as painful cutaneous lesions on the face and limbs, bilateral paresthesia of the fourth and fifth fingers, and systemic symptoms. Prednisone 40 mg daily for a week and then 60 mg daily for another week reduced the lesions by 80% and the pain by 50%. Although prednisone 60 mg daily was continued for one more week and then stopped, thalidomide was started at a dose of 300 mg daily for 4 weeks and then reduced gradually, which led to complete resolution.
CONCLUSION: At the 7(1/2)-month follow-up, the patient remained completely asymptomatic.
PY - 2010 SP - 95 EP - 9 T2 - Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery TI - Canadian case report of erythema nodosum leprosum successfully treated with prednisone and thalidomide. VL - 14 SN - 1203-4754 ER -