title: Erythema nodosum: the underlying conditions.
abstract: Erythema nodosum (EN) is a cutaneous reaction consisting of inflammatory, tender nodular lesions and is associated with a wide variety of disease processes. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of different aetiologies of EN. One hundred and thirty-two EN patients were investigated in a prospective study during the period 1984-1990. The evaluation of all patients began with a medical and family history and completed with a thorough physical examination and detailed laboratory and immunological work-up. In addition, various diagnostic procedures were performed where and when indicated. One hundred and ten patients (83%) were women. Their mean age was 41.0+/-14.0 years, range 18-79 years. In 35% the cause of EN was not found. Sarcoidosis was revealed in 28% of the patients, infections in 17.3% and tuberculosis in 1.5%. Other aetiologic factors were Adamantiadis-Behçet's syndrome (3.8%), pregnancy (6%), oral contraceptives (3.8%) and other drugs (3.8%). The aetiology of EN was not found in 35% of the patients. Sarcoidosis and infections were frequent causes of EN, whereas autoimmune rheumatic diseases rarely cause EN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Psychos
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Voulgari
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Skopouli
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Drosos
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Moutsopoulos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology