Eosinophilic panniculitis presenting with Kaposi’s sarcoma-like plaques in a patient who is human immunodeficiency virus positive: a case report

• Main Authors: Ustuner Pelin, Dilek Nursel, Saral Yunus, Dilek Aziz, Bedir Recep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-11-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Eosinophilic panniculitis; Human immunodeficiency virus; Kaposi’s sarcoma; Panniculitis
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/6/1/387

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Eosinophilic panniculitis is an unusual type of panniculitis characterized by a prominent infiltration of subcutaneous fat with eosinophils without an exact etiopathogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, up to now eosinophilic panniculitis has been described in only one previous case with human immunodeficiency virus disease in the literature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Here we report the case of a 44-year-old Caucasian man, who is human immunodeficiency virus positive, diagnosed with eosinophilic panniculitis. A dermatological examination revealed multiple, confluent Kaposi’s sarcoma-like purple colored, deep plaques and nodules on his right gluteal area and right thigh. The presence of the mixed inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages, and numerous eosinophils involving both septa and lobules of the subcutis were noted on the histopathological examination. On the basis of all these clinical and histopathological findings the patient was diagnosed with eosinophilic panniculitis. He was given intravenous 60mg/day methylprednisolone for 3 consecutive days a week for 6 months. The lesions resolved almost completely after 6 months.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The predominance of T helper-2 subset of T helper cells and the consequential increase in interleukin-5 cytokines accompanying peripheral eosinophilia and high serum immunoglobulin E levels may all be blamed for the development of eosinophilic panniculitis in our case study. As a result, we aim to emphasize that eosinophilic panniculitis should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous nodular lesions in patients who are human immunodeficiency virus positive. We also focus on the requirement of histopathological examination for the definitive diagnosis because the clinical features of eosinophilic panniculitis may easily be confused with Kaposi’s sarcoma.</p>