title: Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in lobular granulomatous panniculitis (erythema induratum-nodular vasculitis).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, if Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA is present in the skin biopsy specimens of lobular granulomatous panniculitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-based hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the 65 patients included in the study, we examined 72 paraffin-embedded skin biopsy specimens with a histologic diagnosis of erythema induratum or nodular vasculitis. The biopsy specimens were from the histopathological archives of the Departments of Dermatology and Pathology of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain, from 1976 to 1994. Twenty-two biopsy specimens were excluded from the final analysis because we could not amplify the internal control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detection of a 123-base pair fragment of the IS6110 insertion sequence specific for M tuberculosis complex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of PCR amplification were positive for M tuberculosis complex DNA in 77% of the skin biopsy specimens. No significant difference could be detected with respect to the age of the patients, ulceration of the nodules, reactivity to purified protein derivative, abnormal results of a chest x-ray examination, personal and family history of tuberculosis, and PCR results. The presence and degree of necrosis on histologic examination were significantly higher in the PCR-positive group (P = .04). None of the following variables were associated with PCR results: presence of vasculitis, degree of granulomatous infiltrates, number of giant cells, and presence of well-organized granulomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DNA of M tuberculosis can be detected in a considerable number of skin biopsy specimens of lobular granulomatous panniculitis. None of the clinical and histologic variables evaluated could accurately predict the results of PCR amplification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baselga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Margall
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barnadas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coll
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Moragas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004891:Erythema Induratum / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial