[Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei: 6 cases].
BACKGROUND
Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei is recognized by all authors as a unique entity, despite many appellations for this disease. In fact, the real origin and the treatment of this affection are unknown. In this study we try to specify the major histological and clinical points of diagnosis, the evolution in the mid-term and the different possibilities of the treatment.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study of the patients diagnosed with lupus miliaris and followed-up by one of us (P.M.) between 1990 and 2000.


RESULTS
There were 6 patients in this study, 5 males and 1 female. The mean age was 37 years old at the time of diagnosis. The patients exhibited a facial eruption, notably in the middle of the face, eyelids and peri-oral area. All the patients had a polymorph eruption of inflammatory and smooth papules. Many of these papules progressed in several weeks to round scars with a perpendicular carved shape. Histologically and depending of the stage of evolution of the lesion, there were some epithelioid cell and giant cell granulomas organized around the necrosis. All of the trial treatments led to failure or semi-failure. Four of the patients followed-up for several years spontaneously recovered from this disease within 2 to 4 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the anatomical and clinical similarities observed in these 6 patients, our study confirms the authenticity of the "lupus miliaris". It did not correspond to a particular form of acne, rosacea, tuberculosis or sarcoidosis. The scars are pathognomonical of this type of eruption. No treatment seems to be efficient. However our study seems to confirm the general idea of spontaneous recovery with 2 to 4 years.
Borhan
R
R
Service de Dermatologie 2, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris.
Vignon-Pennamen
M-D
MD
Morel
P
P
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies