Multiple pseudolymphomas caused by Hirudo medicinalis therapy.
Therapy with medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) is now frequently applied in plastic surgery and in the management of chronic venous insufficiency. We observed a patient in whom firm, brown-red, pea-sized papules developed at each site where leeches had been applied on the lower legs. Histology, immunohistology, and molecular analysis of T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement proved these lesions to be follicular pseudolymphomas.
Smolle
J
J
Department of Dermatology, University of Graz, Austria.
Cerroni
L
L
Kerl
H
H
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches; D008875:Middle Aged; D019310:Pseudolymphoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy